In this episode of Street to Suite, Simon Zelman sits down with Ethan Haber, CEO and Founder of Happy Habitats, to explore how a simple observation about his pet hamster, Moxie, became a growing business. While attending Wake Forest University, Ethan noticed that small-pet products had not evolved much and asked a simple question: why can't you walk a hamster?

Ethan shares how that idea developed into a business through prototypes, trade shows, an entrepreneurial incubator, manufacturing partnerships, and bootstrapping. He discusses the challenges of COVID, rising manufacturing costs, supply chain issues, and the lessons he learned about designing products that balance quality with cost.

The conversation also covers entrepreneurship at a young age, working with his father and P9 Design, managing a business while wearing multiple hats, finding better returns through retail marketplaces, and Happy Habitats' plans to expand through distributors and retail partnerships.

• How a simple observation can become a business opportunity
• Lessons from starting a company at 19
• How an incubator program helped turn an idea into a business
• Building a company through partnerships and sweat equity
• Navigating COVID, manufacturing costs, and supply chain challenges
• Why product design needs to consider manufacturing costs from the beginning
• Finding better returns through marketplaces and retail partners
• The challenges of being a hands-on CEO and knowing what to delegate
• How relationships, cash flow, and product quality contribute to business growth
• Plans for expanding Happy Habitats through distributors and retail stores

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ethan-haber-124040168
• Company: haberplushproductions.com
• Happy Habitats: happyhabitats.net

Street to Suite explores the real stories behind successful careers, businesses, and leadership, sharing the lessons you don't always learn in school.

Listen to this episode for an inside look at entrepreneurship, product development, bootstrapping, and how one college student's idea grew into a small-pet products business reaching retailers across the United States and beyond.

In this episode of Street to Suite, Simon Zelman sits down with Elad Shushan, Founder and CEO of ES Cash Outs, to explore how a passion for reselling turned into a growing wholesale electronics business.

Elad shares how he started buying and reselling products while still in school before building ES Cash Outs into a business serving buyers across international markets. He explains how the company sources consumer electronics in the U.S., works with overseas buyers, and manages inventory through warehouses, buying groups, and a remote team.

The conversation also covers scaling a high-volume trading business, maintaining strong client relationships, protecting margins, and learning from costly operational mistakes. Elad also discusses expanding into trading cards and his plans to continue growing the business through stronger relationships, inventory, and consistent supply.

• How Elad turned reselling into a seven-figure business
• The process of sourcing consumer electronics for international buyers
• Why relationships and reliable supply are critical in wholesale
• How ES Cash Outs manages inventory, warehouses, and remote team members
• The importance of protecting margins in a high-volume business
• Lessons from costly logistics and operational mistakes
• How fast payouts and strong communication help build customer trust
• Expanding into new product categories such as trading cards
• Why reinvesting profits into inventory can support future growth

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elad-shushan-69362825a
• Company: ES Cash Outs

Street to Suite explores the real stories behind successful careers, businesses, and leadership, sharing the lessons you don't always learn in school.

Listen to this episode for an inside look at entrepreneurship, wholesale electronics, international business, and Elad's journey from reselling products to building a seven-figure company.

In this episode of Street to Suite, Simon Zelman sits down with Jared Kugel, founder and CEO of Tire Agent, to explore the journey behind building a successful online tire business.

Jared shares how growing up in the tire industry shaped his entrepreneurial path, why his first business ideas failed, and how multiple pivots eventually led to Tire Agent. He opens up about investor rejection, financial struggles, nearly losing everything, and the mindset that helped him keep moving forward.

The conversation also covers fundraising, dilution, customer loyalty, e-commerce, customer service, and why listening to customers and focusing on continuous improvement have been key to Tire Agent's growth.

• Lessons from growing up in a family business
• Why entrepreneurs need to embrace failure and pivot quickly
• How Jared navigated investor rejection and fundraising
• Why focusing on small milestones can overcome big challenges
• The importance of customer service and listening to feedback
• How to approach investors as partners rather than just sources of capital
• Why persistence, patience, and commitment matter when building a business

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jaredkugel
• Website: tireagent.com

Street to Suite explores the real stories behind successful careers, businesses, and leadership, sharing the lessons you don't always learn in school.

Listen to this episode for an inside look at entrepreneurship, resilience, fundraising, and the journey from the street to the suite.

In this episode of Street to Suite, Simon Zelman sits down with John Parisi and Paul Anteri, co-founders of U.S. AgriDocs, to explore how a former USDA inspector and a food processing plant owner came together to solve a major problem in food safety compliance.

John Parisi spent 10 years as a USDA Consumer Safety Inspector, visiting hundreds of facilities and seeing the same outdated system of clipboards, binders, and paper records. Paul Anteri, a USDA plant owner and operator, was experiencing those same challenges from the business side. Together, they recognized an opportunity to transform traditional food safety records into a digital, smarter, and more proactive system.

The conversation covers their journey from identifying the problem to building and testing U.S. AgriDocs, bootstrapping the company, developing technology that can digitize existing food safety programs, and taking the risk of leaving a government career to pursue entrepreneurship. They also discuss food safety, compliance, AI, proactive alerts, scaling the business, and their vision for helping food processing facilities identify potential problems before they become serious issues.

• How a former USDA inspector and plant owner identified the same problem from different perspectives
• Why outdated paper-based food safety records created an opportunity for innovation
• How U.S. AgriDocs helps facilities turn existing food safety programs into digital, smart systems
• The role of AI and technology in improving food safety compliance
• How proactive alerts can help identify potential threats of noncompliance
• What it took to build, test, and launch U.S. AgriDocs
• Why John Parisi made the decision to leave his USDA career and take the entrepreneurial leap
• How the founders bootstrapped the company while maintaining ownership
• Their plans to scale U.S. AgriDocs nationally and globally
• Why modernizing food safety records could help facilities become more proactive and audit-ready

• John Parisi – LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/parisi-john
• Paul Anteri – LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-anteri-068788284
• Website: USAgriDocs.com

Street to Suite explores the real stories behind successful careers, businesses, and leadership, sharing the lessons you don't always learn in school.

Listen to this episode for the story behind U.S. AgriDocs, how two professionals from opposite sides of food safety came together to build a business, and their mission to modernize food safety compliance.

In this episode of Street to Suite, Simon Zelman sits down with Dina Ellis Rochkind, founder of DNA Government Solutions, to explore what really happens behind the scenes in Washington.

Dina shares lessons from nearly three decades working across Capitol Hill, the U.S. Treasury, corporate America, and law, including her work on the JOBS Act. She explains how relationships, bipartisan collaboration, and advocacy can shape legislation—and why business leaders need to pay attention to Washington.

The conversation also covers AI, crypto, fintech, regulation, innovation, and Dina’s journey from Big Law to entrepreneurship.

• How legislation really gets done in Washington
• Why relationships and bipartisan collaboration matter
• When businesses should start paying attention to government affairs
• The balance between regulation and innovation
• How AI, crypto, and fintech are shaping policy
• Lessons from Dina’s transition from law to entrepreneurship

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinaellisrochkind
• Email: [email protected]

Street to Suite explores the real stories behind successful careers, businesses, and leadership, sharing the lessons you don't always learn in school.

Listen to this episode for an inside look at Washington, government affairs, and the journey from the street to the suite.

Most business conversations play it safe, but this one doesn't.

In Episode 0, Simon Zelman introduces his approach to helping e-commerce business owners improve profitability, maximize cash flow, and make smarter financial decisions. Drawing from more than two decades of experience working with e-commerce businesses across the United States, Simon shares real examples of how better accounting systems, financial analysis, and CFO strategies can uncover hidden opportunities and strengthen a company's bottom line.

From correcting inaccurate inventory costing to uncovering questionable vendor charges and developing strategies for long-term financial planning, Simon explains why understanding the numbers behind your business is essential for sustainable growth.

He also breaks down the three key steps he uses with e-commerce business owners: increasing profitability, accelerating cash flow, and strategically planning for the future.

• Accurate accounting and inventory costing can reveal real profitability and unlock new financing opportunities.
• A detailed review of vendor accounts and expenses can uncover unnecessary or questionable costs.
• Profit and cash flow are not the same—business owners need strategies for both.
• Improving payment processing, vendor management, and collections can help businesses access cash faster.
• Strategic CFO guidance can help owners evaluate risk, investment opportunities, and growth decisions.
• Strong financial systems provide the foundation for scaling an e-commerce business with greater confidence.
• The ultimate goal isn't simply to make more money—it's to build a business that supports the income, freedom, and lifestyle the owner wants.

Simon starts with a comprehensive profitability assessment, examining revenue streams, product costs, overhead expenses, pricing, supplier contracts, and inventory management to identify opportunities to improve the bottom line.

Because profit doesn't necessarily mean cash in the bank, the next step focuses on improving daily cash flow. This includes analyzing incoming and outgoing cash, optimizing payment processing, improving transaction settlements, and managing vendor payments more effectively.

The final step is focused on long-term financial strategy. Simon evaluates the business model, financial health, scalability, risk management, investment opportunities, and financial systems to help owners make informed decisions and prepare for sustainable growth.

• Why traditional accounting may not give e-commerce owners the full financial picture
• How inaccurate inventory costing can impact reported profitability
• Finding hidden costs within vendor accounts
• Strategies for improving cash flow
• Why profitability and cash flow must be managed separately
• The importance of strategic financial planning
• How CFO services can support major business decisions
• Building financial systems that can scale with your business
• Turning business profits into greater personal financial freedom

Ready to take a closer look at the numbers behind your business?

Listen to this episode and join Simon Zelman for candid conversations about the real financial challenges, opportunities, and strategies that business owners face.

This podcast is all about real stories, practical financial insights, and honest business conversations, helping entrepreneurs understand their numbers, improve profitability and cash flow, make smarter financial decisions, and build businesses designed for long-term success.

Listen now and discover what it takes to turn your business finances into a powerful tool for growth, freedom, and financial confidence.