Behind the Review

Powell's City of Books is no mere bookstore; it's an institution, community, and treasure for bibliophiles. This literary haven offers new, used, and rare finds that beckon readers from every corner of the globe. Store Manager Bry Hoag helped Powell's flourish into a cultural icon with its unique blend of history, sustainability, and unwavering commitment to the written word. Yelp Elite reviewer Chelsea G. also shares the magic that makes Powell’s a cornerstone of Portland's vibrant community.

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Bonnie Mauldin has been hustling since she was a kid. At eight years old, she was knocking on doors offering to shovel driveways. After graduation, she entered the medical field, but quickly discovered it was not for her. Now, Bonnie owns two successful businesses, The Mauldin Group and Mauldin Production Company. Having learned a lot along the way, Bonnie shares her tips on changing careers, side hustles, and running multiple businesses.

Listen to the Side Hustle to Small Business podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit: entm.ag/hiscox

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Erica Spitzley and Cassie Tucker are crazy about two things: marketing and happy hour. So when one happy hour turned into a four-hour conversation about the best and brightest marketing ideas, they knew they had to build a bigger table, so to speak. They created the Marketing Happy Hour podcast, where they have built a community of some of the best minds in marketing to share insights and strategies for businesses of all sizes. In this episode they chat with Behind the Review host Emily.

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Chef Priyanka Naik took a very non-traditional route to success as a Food Network Champion. When culinary school didn’t align with her vegetarian upbringing, she didn’t let that stop her from pursuing her dreams of cooking on TV. Instead, she took a tech job to support her while working on becoming the best vegan chef she could. Her tireless self-promotion and not taking no for an answer landed her a dream chance on the Food Network, a cookbook, and so much more.

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Alessandro Farruggio and his family, owners of Il Canale in Washington D.C., are experts in the pizza business. Since Alessandro’s father immigrated from Italy in the 1970s, the family has been serving authentic Italian recipes in the D.C. area. Their delicious food, consistent customer engagement, and knack for adaptability has earned them recognition on three Yelp Top 100 lists since 2022. Reviewer Sydney G. shares how the restaurant became one of her go-to dinner spots.

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Tea and Milk owner Mathew Wong has gone to great lengths to create the best bubble tea possible, traveling as far as Japan to research and source his tea. He uses only the highest quality ingredients in all of his products, but found that they weren’t always popular with customers, who had grown used to inferior ingredients. In order to expand, Wong first had to educate himself, his team, and his customers on the intricacies of tea making.

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It takes a village to raise a small business, as any entrepreneur will tell you. It sounds like a solo act, but the more advocates in a business’s corner, the more likely their success. This week Emily sits down with three of Yelp’s community managers to talk about their roles and what they can do to help make a small business successful — everything from making connections in the community, hosting events on site, to promoting the business on Yelp’s local social media pages.

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Crystal Peterson, owner of Yo’ Mama’s, has kept service at the forefront of her strategy from day 1. Located in downtown Birmingham, the family-run comfort food restaurant targets the city’s busy visitors and workers during lunch hour with quick and friendly counter service. Reviewer Delia S. shares how her first experience in Yo’ Mama’s welcoming community space made the restaurant a staple in her rotation.

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Nirvana Soul in San Jose isn’t your ordinary coffee shop. It’s loud, vivacious, and encourages community expression, whether in their regular open-mic nights or the colorful art on the walls. Sisters and co-owners Jeronica and Be’Anka created their coffee shop to serve up unique flavors like the White Rose Latte and a Hazelnut Mocha. But the more important mission is to combat one of the big epidemics facing our country — loneliness. Customer Camy shares what she loves about Nirvana Soul.

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Lisa and Miguel Segura, owners of Miguel’s Artisan Recipes, always have an open seat at their table. The couple has spent the last three years finding new ways to share their jarred salsas and fresh Mexican recipes with their community. What started as pandemic deliveries to their circle of friends turned into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar operation in Clovis, CA. Yelp user and Community Director Nathen M. shares his experience meeting Miguel and Lisa and falling in love with their business.

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