By Betsy Bonnema
Betsy Bonnema is the creator and facilitator of collaborative marketing workshops built for small businesses in rural communities. In these workshops, people start out feeling lost and Betsy has on
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The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.
Hannah Peura believes in celebrating life's moments, big and small. Her love of celebrating, keen eye, and want for unique gifts led her to starting Compass Rose in Bemidji MN almost 7 years ago. Hannah is a young entrepreneur who is not afraid to fail. Her grit and determination have allowed her to pivot and grow her business from an extra bedroom in her home, to a 500 square foot retail space, to her current downtown two story location. It is in this location where she now operates her retail store, Compass Rose, and Creative Compass, a wholesale business where she puts her design skills to work creating product and offering custom designs for other retailers and clients around the midwest.
Listen in as we talk with Hannah about taking calculated risks, growing a business and a family, and being a retailer in a community centered around tourism.
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Nicholas Klein believes in generosity and equal opportunity. He believes that all people should have the chance to follow their ambitions and is working to make those dreams possible one piece of fudge at a time.
Listen in as we talk with Nick, a third generation business owner in training, who is working to make a delicious difference through his family business Walnut Grove Mercantile and Klein Foods in Marshall, MN. In this episode, Nick walks us through the evolution of Klein Foods from its beginning with Grandpa Raymond in 1951, evolving with his parents Steve and Kay to include Walnut Grove Mercantile, to its successful fudge fundraising programs impacting hundreds of community groups across the country.
Learn More about Walnut Grove Mercantile and their work to make a delicious difference @ walnutgrovemerc.com
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Emma Weber believes everyone has a place at the table and deserves to be seen. She believes that each person brings something unique to share and our differences make a beautiful impact.
Emma is a young entrepreneur that has traveled across the globe doing mission work and returned home to Dawson Minnesota where she took the leap and purchased a main street business to start Gnometown Grounds, a coffee shop & retail space.
Listen in as we discuss the challenges around being a young business owner in your hometown and the aspirations Emma has to own a successful coffee shop and so much more.
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Autumn Lee believes in transforming fear into freedom. She takes life on head first because "No one can take away your birthday".
Autumn owns Sunshine & Whiskey Filling Station and the Salty Heifer Liquor store in Watson, MN, a town of 180 people. There is no better person who understands the struggle and importance of small business ownership in a small rural town.
Autumn balances the schedules of business ownerships, farming, twin teenage girls and everything else life throws hers way. She is a bad ass business owner that focuses on her customers, time management, mindset and understanding the in-and-out operations of her business.
Autumn joined the un/academy community when she completed Startup Bootcamp in 2023, where she left a lasting impact on us and continues to motivate all those she meets. She believes small business ownership is what small communities thrive on, they are the backbone of a community.
Listen in for a great story about grit, hope, hustle, putting in the work and rebuilding a community one step at a time.
Learn more about Sunshine & Whiskey Filling Station
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Emma Fretheim believes in the power of self expression. Emma values diversity, individuality and believes we are most fulfilled when we are being true to ourselves. As the Product Specialist for Threedom, a direct-to-consumer company created by DI Labs, she is helping Jeep owners express themselves through personalized automotive accessories..
Emma joined the Threedom team in Willmar MN the summer of 2023, shortly after graduating from Luther College in DeCorah Iowa. Listen in to our conversation as we explore how Threedom captured the attention of Emma as a young professional on the hunt for a fulfilling career and and how the authenticity of the team and owners of DI Labs brought her to Willmar MN.
Learn more about Threedom: https://mythreedom.com/
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Tobias Flood and Mark Eiden believe creativity belongs in manufacturing.
As students, and as manufacturing employees, Tobias and Mark experienced first-hand the rigidity of typical manufacturing firms that are set in old processes with little opportunity for change. This is why they created Metal Trade Solutions and set out to create an environment embracing creativity and flourishing in the freedom to design, ideate and create.
Together, Mark & Tobias have grown their business and are adjusting their operations model. Listen in as discuss the process from starting a business from the ground up, to establishing systems and preparing for growth.
Learn more about Metal trade Solutions @ https://metaltradesolutions.com/
Learn more about the Marketing Un/Academy @ https://marketingunacademy.com/
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Brittany and Peter Haugen believe in meaningful nourishment. Together, they have created Sandhill Mill in Canby MN, where they grow, harvest, mill and sell wholesome ancient grain flour and ethically grown food. When Brittany and Peter attended Startup Bootcamp fall 2022, they each had their own reasons for wanting to start ‘the yet to be named’ mill. Going through the program process together they gained an understanding of each other's passion around the business, established a common goal and were able to combine their ideas to launch Sandhill Mill.
Listen in as Peter & Brittany tell us about their passion for learning, farming, cooking and educating others to connect them to their food source. Learn how they worked together using each other's strengths, trusted their instinct and took the leap into small business ownership all while raising a family of three boys. This is the story of how a big idea became reality in rural Minnesota.
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Sarah Swedburg believes that the strongest communities are created when everybody is at the table and minority voices are centered.
Sarah has a diverse background growing up in the Bemidji/Walker area, graduating from Bemidji State where she majored in geography and went on to work in Africa doing geographic information system (GIS) mapping. Sarah then moved to central MN and worked as the City Planner for Willmar, MN where she took on the role of director for the Willmar Main Street Project. During this time she cultivated connections between a new wave of diverse entrepreneurs and a traditional rural town, helping a community grow together.
Sarah continues her work to create connections and grow community through her role as the Business Development Manager for Kandiyohi County EDC. Listen in as she shares about her work and her passion bringing people to the table, learning from each other, and growing entrepreneurs to grow our communities.
Find more episodes, entrepreneur stories, and workshops on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@redstarmarketingunacademy
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Pugs Hayes believes there is no strength without unity. This is why he has built Hayes' Public House in Buffalo, MN, a brewery/Tap Room that opened it's doors back in 2013. Hayes' Public House showcases their hand crafted ales not only on draught but on traditional hand pulls giving the customer a true pub experience that values tradition and community. Hayes' Public House represents a cross-section of the community where people can enjoy a beer in the cozy Irish pub with eclectic decor and memorabilia, or on the rooftop patio overlooking Buffalo Lake.
Listen in as Pugs shares about his experience growing up in the family restaurant, falling in love with brewing, meeting with his mentor and building a business that is celebrating its 10th birthday this year!
Learn more about Hayes' Public House by visiting:
https://www.facebook.com/hayespublichouse
Find more episodes, entrepreneur stories, and workshops on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@redstarmarketingunacademy
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Nathalie Nakashama works to bridge the gap. She has dedicated her personal and professional journey to connecting people, cultures and community. Nathalie is the owner of WorldMart in Worthington MN. She has consistently followed her 'why' to bridge the gap while adapting her business to meet her community needs. Currently, World Mart offers an African grocery market, hair braiding, international community space, education and a food truck serving up fantastic cuisine from around the world. Listen in and be inspired.
Learn more about World Mart by visiting their Facebook Page
Find more episodes, entrepreneur stories, and workshops on our YouTube channel:
https://YouTube.com/@redstarmarketingunacademy
Find us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/marketingunacademy/
Over the past 7 years, our team has worked with over 145 entrepreneurs and small business owners in greater Minnesota. These incredible people are bravely taking chances on their dreams and giving back to their communities in powerful ways. They run what appear to be typical businesses... coffee shops, bakeries, consulting firms, retail stores, salons, restaurants... but they are really agents for change. And we need these rebel entrepreneurs and changemakers now, more than ever. Here's to you!
Learn more about our community of entrepreneurs and small business owners: https://youtu.be/5ahW-IdYOWw
Explore a new way to learn about marketing:
https://marketingunacademy.com/
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The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.