Small Biz Stories

Kellee Twadelle, owner of Rose & Dove Specialty Gift Shop, is proud to own her own business. In this episode, Kellee shares how support from her local business community, quality staff, and loyal customer base keep her business going strong throughout various industry changes and personal challenges.

Small Biz Stories tells the story of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet — small business owners.

You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Find us on Stitcher

You can also read the transcript below:

Small Biz Stories is brought to you by Constant Contact. Constant Contact is committed to helping small businesses and nonprofits connect to new and existing customers with email marketing. Find out more at ConstantContact.com.

Kellee: It was nice sort of being in charge of your own destiny. Then again on the flip side, there’s so much pressure in wanting to make it succeed and that always in the back of your head, that chance of failure. I think seeing my father and how successful he was, that fear of failure, I sort of had this drive. “I’ve got to just keep going and running with this and changing and mixing it up and evolving.” I think anyone who goes straight to starting their own business has got such great moxie. My hat is off to them because that’s pretty amazing, too. At least I’ve got a base, a foundation of . . . I was a project manager, so I kind of knew how to approach certain things and events and I’m like “Okay. I can kind of use that template.” But someone coming, brand-new, that’s pretty incredible.

Dave: Earlier this year, we surveyed small business owners to hear about the sacrifices and rewards of owning your own business. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that 59 percent of those surveyed agreed that the freedom to try new things, make your own mistakes, and control your destiny is the best part of running a small business.

As important as personal freedom is to many owners, listening to their stories has shown that no successful business is truly self-sufficient.

Today you’ll hear from Kellee Twadelle, owner of Rose and Dove Specialty Gift Shop. Kellee shares how support from her local business community, quality staff, and loyal customer base keep her business going strong throughout various industry changes and personal challenges.

More than fifty percent of small businesses fail within the first five years. These are the stories of those who beat the odds. My name is Dave Charest and I’ll be your host as we share the stories of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet, small business owners. You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Dave: Unlike a few of the other business owners we’ve talked to, Kellee didn’t start off her career as an owner. After spending over a decade working in the corporate world, Kellee shifted her focus to explore other talents.

Jim Kilroy, owner of Danish Country Antiques, knows what it takes to be a small business owner. Listen as he shares how he’s stayed motivated for over 30 years, his best advice, and what it really means to think like an owner.

Small Biz Stories tells the story of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet — small business owners.

You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Find us on Stitcher

You can also read the transcript below:

Small Biz Stories is brought to you by Constant Contact. Constant Contact is committed to helping small businesses and nonprofits connect to new and existing customers with email marketing. Find out more at ConstantContact.com.

Jim: There was no hard part. You just did it. You had to do it. There was no choice. I wasn’t going to go apply for a job. I just had to do it. And I had to succeed one way or the other. My wife was pregnant. You know what I mean? I had no money. I had to succeed. It was as simple as that. And I did. I was lucky.

Dave: Jim Kilroy, owner of Danish Country Antiques, is the sixth business owner we’ve interviewed for Small Biz Stories. Since starting the project three months ago, we’ve talked to people like Andy and Jackie, who sold their home to start their own artisan bakery. Then there was Peter, a man who loves cheese enough to roll a 400 pound wheel of it down a red carpet during his annual cheese parade. We heard from Marie, who keeps her business going by displaying her talent both online and off. And most recently, Jason and Chris shared how their efforts contribute to community development and make a lasting impact.

With each story comes a new adventure, shaped by the owners and their unique points of view. But look closer and you’ll start to see some unmistakable commonalities. These are people who hit the ground running on day one, and have followed through ever since. Their motivation comes from a strong desire to call the shots, as well as an unwavering belief in the value of what they do.

Like a handcrafted Danish cabinet from the 1760s, these traits can’t be forged or copied. When you see the real deal, you just know it.

Today Jim shares how he has stayed motivated for over 30 years, his biggest business regret, and what it really means to think like an owner.

More than fifty percent of small businesses fail within the first five years. These are the stories of those who beat the odds. My name is Dave Charest and I’ll be your host as we share the stories of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet, small business owners. You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Dave: Starting a small business, it doesn’t take long to realize what you’re up against. Listening to Jim talk about the early days of his business, you’ll hear his determination, as well as the importance of having a support system to make it through some early challenges.

Jim: I was going to do an antique store one way or the other.

Dave: What year was that when you started the shop?

Jim: That was in ’84.

Dave: ’84?

In episode 5, you’ll meet Chris Iousa, owner of Destaré (http://destare.com/) martini bar and Chaibo (http://chaibo.com/) coffee and tea house in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Listen as he shares how small businesses have the power to transform Main Street and revitalize communities.

Small Biz Stories (http://constantcontact.com/smallbizstories) tells the story of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet — small business owners.

You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Find us on Stitcher (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/constant-contact/small-biz-stories?refid=stpr).

You can also read the transcript below:

Small Biz Stories is brought to you by Constant Contact (http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp). Constant Contact is committed to helping small businesses and nonprofits connect to new and existing customers with email marketing (http://www.constantcontact.com/email-marketing). Find out more at ConstantContact.com (http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp).

Chris: The chasing of money, it actually bores me. It's just not something that intrigues me. It's difficult for me to be around a lot of other business people. They're talking about their profits and their return on investments. It doesn't inspire me. It's like, what have you done? What have you created? What difference have you made in the communities that you're in?

By default, the businesses do make money, but that's never been my passion. It's been really about engaging with customers, engaging the neighborhood, hoping to help make people feel a little more pride in their community.

Dave: Chris Iousa remembers the first time he drove through Fitchburg. The old mill town architecture and Victorian homes awoke an excitement that hasn’t left him since. Driving down Main Street, Chris saw an opportunity to revitalize a community and reclaim Fitchburg as the destination spot it once was during the peak of its industrial and commercial prosperity.

Like many small business owners, Chris is passionate about his local community. He knows his customers’ names and their favorite orders. He listens to his staff and gives them opportunities to directly contribute to the business. Above all, Chris holds a strong conviction that small businesses have the power to transform communities.

Today, Chris shares how he overcame doubts and challenges to create profitable and influential businesses in his community. He’ll share how his approach as a business owner has changed over time and his best piece of advice for those just starting out.

More than fifty percent of small businesses fail within the first five years. These are the stories of those who beat the odds. My name is Dave Charest and I’ll be your host as we share the stories of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet, small business owners. You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Chris’s interest in community development stems from a background in real estate. For years, Chris has made lasting impact by renovating space and stimulating neighborhoods.

Chris: My passion is transforming space. Prior to acquiring this building, most of my development activities were looking in the most desperate of residential neighborhoods. I'd find the worst house in the neighborhood and I went in and renovated it.

We did a full development of the space of the building. I watched on a small scale that our efforts on one building in a neighborhood would start getting. I'd send my crews down there. The landscapers would go out and do their thing. Then I'd watch the next weekend a property that had been completely unmaintained for years and years and years, now the other person, a neighbor was out actually raking the leaves that had been accumulating for many, many years. I looked at that and I said, "You can't count on the neighborhood transforming but you can make a difference."

Meet Jason Talbot, co-founder of Artists for Humanity. Jason shares his views on how to transform ideas, individuals, and the greater community.

Small Biz Stories tells the story of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet — small business owners.

You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Find us on Stitcher

You can also read the transcript below:

Small Biz Stories is brought to you by Constant Contact. Constant Contact is committed to helping small businesses and nonprofits connect to new and existing customers with email marketing. Find out more at ConstantContact.com.

Jason: I could feel it happening to my mind, to myself, to my self-image, to my vision for my future that I wanted to continue. I wanted to have an art show in that gallery every weekend for the rest of my life, because it felt that good. And that’s why we do it, because it makes that effort worth something.

Dave: If you own a small business, you’re probably familiar with this feeling. There’s a moment when all the hard work and sacrifice you’ve put into something finally pays off. You feel a true sense of accomplishment.

As any small business owner can tell you, you’ll need hard work, focus, and discipline to take full advantage of the opportunities available to you.

Today, Jason Talbot, co-founder of Artists for Humanity, shares how a strong work ethic has the power to transform your idea, self-image, and community.

More than fifty percent of small businesses fail within the first five years. These are the stories of those who beat the odds. My name is Dave Charest and I’ll be your host as we share the stories of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet, small business owners. You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Dave: Artists for Humanity is a nonprofit that started off with an idea: to address the lack of arts experiences in Boston’s Public schools by employing urban teens to provide creative services to clients within the local business community. Jason has been involved in this program since the beginning — first as a student of the program, and today as a co-founder and Special Projects Director for the organization.

Dave: So I guess let’s look at the history starting there. You’re in a unique position where that you’re kind of a product of the program, I guess, before it was a program, right?

Jason: Yeah, yeah.

Dave: Tell us a little bit about how that all started.

Jason: Well, Artists for Humanity, it started in a real organic way. Susan Rodgerson, our executive director, saw what was going on in the Boston Public School System. Saw art programs being slashed and really took it upon herself in a real entrepreneurial way to make sure the young people got the enrichment that art brings to their lives. And she wanted to make sure that there was art in schools, that kids had that experience. And so she had this plan to paint a big, giant painting with a bunch of kids and sell it off to a corporation for lobby art to then fund the next painting.

Join us for episode 3, where we share the story of Marie Mouradian, owner of Window Designs Etc.

Small Biz Stories tells the story of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet — small business owners.

You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Find us on Stitcher

You can also read the transcript below:

Small Biz Stories is brought to you by Constant Contact. Constant Contact is committed to helping small businesses and nonprofits connect to new and existing customers with email marketing. Find out more at ConstantContact.com.

Marie: How I determine success? Jeez, I don’t know. To leave everything more beautiful than it started with. And everything is different; each job has a little different twist on it.

Dave: What is it about success that makes it so hard for us to pin down?  Maybe the biggest reason is that success looks and feels different for each person.

For Marie Mouradian, owner of Window Designs Etc., success is not something to be accomplished, but something to constantly strive for. As her own boss for over 33 years, Marie has pushed herself to stay at the top of her craft within a changing industry.

Today she’ll share where she gets her inspiration, her biggest challenges, and advice you can apply to your business.

More than fifty percent of small businesses fail within the first five years. These are the stories of those who beat the odds. My name is Dave Charest and I’ll be your host as we share the stories of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet, small business owners. You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Dave: Stepping into our office, it’s clear that Marie’s passion for design and aesthetic are not only part of her business, but something she lives and breathes each day. There’s an attention to detail in the way that she presents herself. I started our interview by asking Marie where her love of fashion and design comes from and how it translated to starting her own business.

Marie:  Ever since I was really small my mother and my grandmother taught me how to sew. And so I started sewing clothing when I was probably about seven. And that’s what I have my degree in, is clothing and textiles. And then I went into fashion merchandising, into the retail end. And that was when stores started opening on Sunday, and I was working way too much for schlepping all kinds of clothing all over a store.

And so I started doing things on the side. And it was through encouragement of my family, my friends, my then-fiancé who said, “You really just need to start a business.” And so at the ripe old age of 22 I went into business. Did I have a business plan? No. Was I crazy? Yes. But I was very fortunate that I had people who believed in me.

Dave: For Marie, the doubts and uncertainties of starting a business were overpowered by a desire to pursue something personal and meaningful.

Marie: Fabric makes my heart sing, and color and texture and all the types of style and design.

Dave: Tell me a bit more about that. What about it makes you so excited?

Marie: That you can take something flat, a flat bolt of fabric, and you can create anything, anything. Anything that gives you a feeling. And, of course, as it transfers onto windows, it absorbs sound, it creates all other functions. Whether you’re going to block out light or add some style,

In this episode, we visit The Cheese Shop in Concord, Massachusetts to meet Peter Lovis.

Small Biz Stories tells the story of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet — small business owners.

You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Find us on Stitcher

You can also read the transcript below:

Small Biz Stories is brought to you by Constant Contact. Constant Contact is committed to helping small businesses and nonprofits connect to new and existing customers with email marketing. Find out more at ConstantContact.com.

Peter: He says, “Why? How much are you . . . ” He’s looking around a small little store and said, “How much you gonna buy?” I’m like, “15, 20 wheels.” His eyes popped in the back of his head. He says, “Well, you know they make a 400-pounder.” I’m like, “Well, I’ll buy a 400-pound wheel.” I know I’m gonna sell it. Right? I know I’m gonna sell that many pounds of this one cheese. I’ll buy a 400-pound wheel of cheese.

Dave: How many people do you know with that kind of confidence? I can surely think of one — his name is Peter Lovis, owner of The Cheese Shop in Concord, Massachusetts. But even with Peter’s confidence, that doesn’t mean there haven’t been moments of doubt. Today, you’ll hear from Peter as we explore how he got started in the cheese business, the day he thought he made his biggest mistake, and how he pushed through to continue to grow his business.

More than fifty percent of small businesses fail within the first five years. These are the stories of those who beat the odds. My name is Dave Charest and I’ll be your host as we share the stories of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet, small business owners. You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Dave: When you first meet Peter, you can see you’re meeting a man in his element. Half cheesemonger, half magician — he is the Willy Wonka of cheese. Standing behind the counter, handing out generous samples, those of us waiting in line, hold on to our numbers tightly as if we’re clutching our very own golden tickets.

Watching him in action, I wanted to know how he first got started. With almost 40 years in the cheese business, he remembers his first day like it was yesterday.

Peter: Well, I wanted a job. So I went downtown to the Green Grocer in New Jersey, Green Grocer and hardware store and deli and cheese shop and asking people if they’d give me a job. I was 15 years old. My first day was October 16, 1976. I just loved it. I’m still in touch with Mr. Knowles. He’s a great guy. He’s 90 this year.

Dave: Mr. Knowles was Peter’s first boss, and is still the inspiration for a lot of Peter’s own management style. Throughout our interview, Peter brought up a few lessons he learned from Mr. Knowles early on.

Peter: So, I started in October, October ’76. February of vacation week, 1977, February ’77, I hadn’t even worked there for six months. I was not even 16 years old yet. He said to me, “My wife and I are going to St. Bart’s for a week. Will you take care of the store?” So I was 15 years old. I had the keys to the store. I ran the store all by myself, all week.

Peter: Because of that investment that he put into me, that really drives that inspiration to continue to invest in young people and frame them.

Join us for episode 1, where we visit A&J King Artisan Bakers in Salem, Massachusetts. And if you’re in their area, get about one newsletter a month outlining their seasonal specials, upcoming events, and other fun happenings!

Small Biz Stories tells the story of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet — small business owners.

You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

You can also read the transcript below:

Small Biz Stories is brought to you by Constant Contact. Constant Contact is committed to helping small businesses and nonprofits connect to new and existing customers with email marketing. Find out more at ConstantContact.com.

Jackie: Where do you go for advice? Sometimes you feel all alone, “No one will understand I don’t even know where to begin to explain it.”

Dave: You just heard the voice Jackie King, co-owner of A&J King Artisan Bakers in Salem, Massachusetts. If you own a small business it’s likely you’ve felt something similar. Off on your own, with limited time and resources, unsure of where to go for help and guidance. This is why we started SMALL BIZ STORIES.

More than fifty percent of small businesses fail within the first five years. These are the stories of those who beat the odds. My name is Dave Charest and I’ll be your host as we share the stories of some of the bravest people you’ll ever meet, small business owners. You’ll hear how they got started, their biggest challenges, and their dreams for the future.

Stepping inside Andy and Jackie’s bakery, it doesn’t take long to realize you’re in for something good. The display cases are filled with freshly made earl grey scones, almond croissants, and coconut meringue tarts. The staff is friendly and focused, and the walls show off the many framed awards the bakery has received since opening its doors in 2006.

Maybe most impressive is the energy of the bakery. A quick survey of the room reveals that everyone — from the people behind the counter to those seated enjoying their meal — look satisfied and at home.

After speaking with Andy and Jackie, I’m not surprised their bakery has this effect on people. Growing up, both agreed to have inherited a powerful love of food from their families.

But it wasn’t until they tried to pursue other, seemingly more practical careers, that they began to feel like they were missing out on something.

Jackie: I went to college, and then two years into that I was doing fine but I was totally feeling like I had missed out on doing what I really wanted to do. So I left traditional college and went to New England Culinary and just said, “I feel like I’ll be upset if I don’t try this.”

Dave: Andy, who graduated with a music degree and started working at an educational center, described a similar realization.

Andy: I remember one day I was biking through Palo Alto through the Stanford campus, because this was on the West Coast, and I saw a cafe with a bunch of professors eating and talking. And then there was the back door to the cafe where there was a bunch of cooks sitting and laughing and smoking cigarettes on their break. And I just knew I’d rather be them.

Dave: It was at the New England Culinary Institute where the couple first met. After their graduation and getting married,