Nic Faitos, Owner of Starbright Floral Design, shares his approach to critical reviews.

Starbright Floral Design Ali Schwartz Meserole Sound

A great business idea solves a hole in the marketplace, creating something that solves a problem that no one had previously been able to solve. This doesn’t always mean coming up with a new idea, sometimes it just means identifying where an existing business could meet a need and starting there. That is what Shelly Walker, owner of Fairmount Bicycles in Philly did - and it paid off. Her business is more than a business - it’s a place people want to be, according to this week’s Yelp reviewer.

Fairmount Bicycles Ali Schwartz Meserole Sound

Uncovering why you want to start a business or what kind of business you want to start can be as easy as finding something you enjoy and not wanting that to end. And it’s the story of how co-owner James Morro started Urban Kayaks. They were dedicated to creating a great experience and learned from what the competition was doing wrong to bring the best possible outcome to life. This week’s Yelp reviewer, Michelle S. echoes those points precisely after her experience with them.

This episode is sponsored by DoorDash for Work. Get DoorDash for Work and make work delicious. Go to: work.doordash.com/BTR

Urban Kayaks Ali Schwartz Meserole Sound

Being a true solo entrepreneur is not an easy job because, in essence, it’s all of the jobs. It’s never simple to start or run a business, but there is an added element of responsibility and often stress that comes with being the sole proprietor. Victoria Gasparro, owner of The Party Nail, shares what it means to not only own a business but to also be the business and Yelp reviewer, Naomi Y, discusses how it’s really about the value you get that makes an experience worth the cost.

This episode is sponsored by DoorDash for Work. Get DoorDash for Work and make work delicious. Go to: work.doordash.com/BTR

The Party Nail Ali Schwartz Meserole Sound

Sometimes as a business owner you’re involved in a very pivotal moment in a consumer’s life. They are coming to you in a moment of need and have to trust that you’re going to help them through to the other side. Tim Lo, co-founder of career counseling service, Your Next Jump, finds himself in that position daily. He knows that developing trust, right off the bat, is essential and his entire business is built off of that foundation - something this week’s Yelp reviewer, Heather C. knows well.

Your Next Jump Ali Schwartz Meserole Sound

Creativity and authenticity are two key factors in creating a successful business. For Matthew Wong, Co-Founder and CEO of Tea and Milk in NYC, channeling passion into creativity is a core operating principle. To create a product that could be a dime-a-dozen, but somehow rises above, is not an easy feat. This week hear from Yelp reviewer Jando S. on how the business has managed to stand out in a crowd and from Matthew about the importance of leveraging your true passion.

Tea and Milk Ali Schwartz Meserole Sound

Business owners have enormous responsibilities and often have to navigate challenging situations. But when it comes to addiction and mental health counseling, the responsibilities go far beyond running a successful business. Dr. Church founded Wholeview Wellness because she felt there was a need not being met in the therapeutic community. Our Yelp reviewer Glori M. was kind enough to share her story and through herself & Dr. Church, we explore many learnings for businesses in any industry.

Wholeview Wellness Ali Schwartz Meserole Sound

Customer expectations can be tricky sometimes and, as a business owner, they aren’t always in line with what you think they should be. Lucas Sin, owner of Nice Day Chinese in New York, has been expertly managing these challenges. Maintaining cultural integrity while meeting customer expectations is not easy - it takes work and dedication and this week’s reviewer, Morlene C. took notice. Learn how you can strike the balance in this week’s episode.

Nice Day Chinese

Some industries have higher stakes than others. As someone who deals with the pressure of such a high stakes business - in addition to all of the other elements that go into running a successful operation - Nahuel Hilal, owner of Iris Tattoo, has plenty of insights to share. We talk a lot about the importance of customer experience and this week is no exception. When it comes to getting a tattoo - something that will be with you forever - the experience has to match the heightened moment.

Iris Tattoo: https://www.yelp.com/biz/iris-tattoo-miami-2 Ali Schwartz: https://linktr.ee/alischwar Meserole Sound: https://www.meserolesound.nyc/