Business Scale Insights

Business Scale Insights continues its series on Branding with a focus on the development of a Brand Narrative or Story.  To illustrate the power of a great brand narrative or story to propel a business, we invited John Chapman, CEO or Johnny Apple Seed Association (JASA), onto the program to share his compelling testimony. 

John Chapman was sent to jail for selling Walt Disney World tickets on Craigslist in the state of Virginia.  At the time, it was a crime.  What followed after the incident is nothing less than shocking and quite frankly horrifying.  You MUST listen to his story to truly appreciate it. 

After Mr. Chapman's brush with the criminal justice system in the state of Virginia, he had a difficult time finding employment and was homeless for a period of time.   He kept going in and out of interviews.  Once he found a job he could not keep the job after the initial background check. 

His own personal experience inspired him to create JASA.  JASA helps ex-offenders train and get placed in trades.  It is a training program for people to become electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians and other skilled trades.   At the end of the program, participants receive tools and job placement assistance. 

Mr. Chapman's initiative is apparently in dire need in the U.S. right now with aging baby boomes and younger generations not properly trained for the trades.  Recently, INC magazine quoting  the Society of Human Resource Management's (SHRM) "2019 State of the Workplace stated that the 

The top six missing skills in job applicants are:

        1. Problem-solving, critical thinking, innovation, and creativity (37 percent)

        2. Ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity (32 percent)

        3. Communication (31 percent)

        4. Trade skills (carpentry, plumbing, welding, machining, etc.) (31 percent)

         5. Data analysis / data science (20 percent)

         6. Science / engineering / medical (18 percent)

 https://www.inc.com/ryan-jenkins/this-is-most-in-demand-skill-of-future.html?cid=hmsub3 

Trade skills are lacking in the work force to a GREATER degree than data analysis, science, engineering and medical skills. 

If you are interested in finding out more about JASA or John Chapman, please feel free to reach out him via the URLs below:

https://presjasa.wixsite.com/website-1/staff

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-chapman-6736574b/

http://whatsupwoodbridge.com/manassas-trade-school/ 

Business Scale Insights continues the series on Brand Building by  focusing on the rise of social media influencers and their impact on the success of brands and businesses.  To help explain all things INFLUENCER, we invited Starr Dawkins, CEO of The Sweet Cookie Jar, on the program.  Starr Dawkins began her career as an aspiring actress.  She wanted to perform in LA and hoped that she would someday get her big break.  She started sharing her story on You Tube, Instagram and Snapchat.  

She started making a name for herself with Jamaican social media influencers and  by talking frankly and openly about taboo topics like sex, sexual health and feminine hygiene.   From those taboo topics, her audience encouraged her to start creating a line of feminine hygiene products that they could actually use that were all NATURAL .  Those products were initially sold online and her following continued to grow.   Soon a brand of feminine hygiene products was born: From washes and cleansers to sanitary napkins. 

 The market for Feminine Hygiene Products published by Allied Market Research is expected to be $42.7 billion by 2022, registering a CAGR of 6.1% during the period 2016-2022.  North America has observed higher penetration of panty liners and internal cleansers & sprays.

Starr Dawkins has capitalized on this market opportunity by opening a retail location, Sweet Cookiee Jar in Sunrise, Florida.  The location focuses on providing spa services like waxing, V- steams, and Vajacials and also selling her products.  She has transitioned from social media influencer and educator on female hygiene and sexual health to CEO of a pioneering feminine hygiene brand.  Starr Dawkins is an outstanding case study of the power of social media influence to not only grow brands but to literally CREATE one. 

To reach out to Starr or order her products, check out the site:  https://sweetcookies.org

We are continuing our series on building your brand by focusing on the intellectual property aspects of branding.  That means in this episode we are focused on ALL things Trademarks.  

Many small business owners are unsure of or are  downright confused about trademarks and their importance. Many do not understand how trademark relates to the value of a brand and your long term CHOICES to scale, expand, sell or develop additional revenue streams. Thus, if you desire to scale understanding why trademark protection is important and what benefits it provides you is CRITICAL.

To help listeners understand trademarks better, BSI invited trademark expert and attorney Josh Gerben onto the broadcast.  Josh Gerben is the Princpal of the Gerben Law Firm that is based in the Washington, DC area.  Josh provides boutique trademark services that are accessible in price for small businesses and entrepreneurs. 

 He  joined Business Scale Insights to provide a solid overview of the fundamentals of trademarks for entreprenuers and small business owners.  If you or someone you know is unsure about HOW trademarks works be sure to tune into this episode.

To reach Josh, please check out more information on his lawfirm website: gerbenlaw.com

 Business Scale Insights is kicking off another series to help you scale your business.  The focus of the series is BRANDING.  We have invited 6 different guest speakers to share their wisdom and insight on branding building keys to business success.   Our first branding building expert guest is Suzzette Turnbull, CEO of Uncommon Marketing. 

Notable clients have included Henry Fernandez Ministries – a global mega ministry; The Faith Center Ministries – mega ministry in South Florida; and Terrell Fletcher, former NFL athlete, author and senior pastor. These clients along with countless others have attributed their online brand recognition and/or development to Suzzette Turnbull and her company.

 Residing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Suzzette enjoys performing arts, outdoor activities, time with family and friends, and lots of laughter with good food. If you would like to work with Suzzette and her team, she can be reached here: https://suzytalks.com/meet-suzzette/ 

 To close out the Business Scale Insights series on the restaurant/food and beverage business,  we interview the CEO of Unleash Life Tayana Carper.  Tayana and her partner Kelly lead an award winning cold pressed organic juice business in South Florida.  They deliver juices daily to homes and businesses across South Florida and the BUZZ about the business and the RESULTS from individuals taking their juices is tremendous. 

Their mission is to "improve your life by making it as easy as possible to obtain optimal health in an ecofriendly way."  The company and founders believe in the "the power of healing through food, hydration and Eastern medicine, which we bring to you in the form of cold-pressed, raw and organic juice. We are the one of the few South Florida companies to deliver raw cold pressed organic juices to doorsteps in Broward, West Palm Beach and Miami-Dade. We make our weekly bottle deliveries and pick-ups between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Committed to the planet’s health as well as yours, we sanitize and reuse all bottles to keep them from entering the waste stream." 

In the last three years, hundreds of customers have shared their stories of how Unleash LIFE has contributed to improved health, including critical measures such as lower blood pressure and total reduction of chronic pain. You can find testimonials here: https://unleashlifejuice.com/testimonials/

Check out the episode and if you are in the South Florida area you definitely need to check them out.

On this episode of Business Scale Insights, we continue the series on keys to success in the restaurant business and focus locally in South Florida with restauranteur Jarael Holston.  Mr. Holston owns Fat Boyz BBQ and Crazy Cajun Crabs in Broward County, Florida.  The restaurants are family-owned, veteran-owned and locally owned and have a very strong brand following and strong brand loyalty locally. 

Mr. Holston shares an incredibly inspirational story about why he started the business and eventually included his entire family.  The business truly started from love and is a labor of love.  What started out in front of his local church that he pastored, eventually became a food truck and now is at 4 locations and counting! 

He shares so many gems in this episode.  But in particular he shares the 3 KEYS that he wishes others shared with him at the beginning of his business journey.  If you are a budding restaurant owner or you know someone who is, you do not want to miss this episode. It is chock full of insight for you to start and grow your restaurant business.

If you would like more information about Fat Boyz BBQ, please visit the website at www.fatboyzbarbecue.com.

Here's to your success!

 Business Scale Insights continues the series on success in the restaurant business by interviewing leaders of the Urban Brick restaurant franchise, Sammy Aldeeb and Jaime Torres.  Sammy Aldeeb is the CEO of Urban Bricks and Jaime Torres is an Area Developer with a focus on the state of Florida.  Both have a passion for the company, the restaurant business and getting the word out about Urban Bricks. 

Sammy Aldeeb's career in franchising started in 2005 when he opened up his first Marble Slab Creamery. The success from his location inspired him to open another franchise for Subway and eventually another for Great American Cookies. Within 10 years Sammy amassed a portfolio of more than 20+ franchise locations between Marble Slab, Subway and Great American Cookies. In 2015, Sammy decided to take his ventures to the next level and create a brand that specializes in fast-casual pizza, pasta, paninis and salad. Since the debut of Urban Bricks Kitchen in 2015, Sammy has been opening stores nationwide and internationally to expand the Urban Bricks Brand while catering to millennial markets and forward-thinkers. Since 2015 more than 100+ have been sold.  

Sammy and Jaime understand what it takes to build a great brand and what it takes to succeed in the restaurant industry.  Check out this episode to learn more. 

 We kick off our series on the restaurant business by interviewing Marco Scanu.   Mr. Scanu works with clients in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the United States.  He has coached Fortune 1000 company executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals in four different countries and across ten different professions. Mr. Scanu also serves as a venture coach for the University of Miami's Launch Pad program and is a board member of the Entrepreneurship Advisory Board at The School of Hospitality Business - Michigan State University. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center at Florida International University.

In addition to having served as a judge for world renowned business plan competitions and programs such as Start-up Chile, Start-up Peru, Intel® Global Challenge, and The FIU Pino Shark Tank, Mr. Scanu has been an invited speaker in national and international events and has been a panelist at several immigration CLE events and conferences. Mr. Scanu is also a Chevalier of La Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest and largest food & wine society in the world.

Mr. Scanu earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida before going on to earn an MBA in Management from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. Mr. Scanu was also a Visiting Scholar at Michigan State University under the prestigious H. Humphrey Fellowship (Fulbright program) with a focus on Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital and high-growth enterprises. Mr. Scanu is a certified coach from the University.

On this episode, Mr. Scanu provides restaurant business owners key financial and business metrics that they need to master to scale their businesses effectively. 

 In honor of National Small Business Week, BSI continued an interview Julia Aquino to discuss financial literacy for business owners. She continued to detail key financial concepts that business owners need to master in order to effectively scale and grow their businesses.  Julia has over 20 years of experience in finance, strategy and operations.  Her Bachelor's degree is in Finance and she has an MBA with a specialization in accounting.  Julia understands how to simplify the complexity of finance so that business owners can utilize the power of financial information and reports to both manage and build a business. 

If you would like to reach Julia, you can connect with her via her business at www.allsystemsgrow.co.  If you would like to ask a question or possibly be a guest on Business Scale Insights, please send an email to [email protected]  

In honor of National Small Business Week, BSI interviewed Julia Aquino to discuss financial literacy for business owners.  Julia has over 20 years of experience in finance, strategy and operations.  Her Bachelor's degree is in Finance and she has an MBA with a specialization in accounting.  Julia understands how to simplify the complexity of finance so that business owners can utilize the power of financial information and reports to both manage and build a business. 

If you would like to reach Julia, you can connect with her via her business at www.allsystemsgrow.co.  If you would like to ask a question or possibly be a guest on Business Scale Insights, please send an email to [email protected]