The Koerner Office - Business Ideas, Advice & Deep Dives

I sat down with Alex Nelson (https://x.com/weddingvenueguy), the owner of The Midnight Gem, a successful wedding venue in Swisher, Iowa. In this episode, we talk about how he went from concept to pre-booking $300,000 in weddings before construction was even completed. We also discuss how he achieved his $800,000+ annual revenue, how he differentiated his venue from the typical Iowa barns, and his approach to scaling profits with events beyond weddings. 

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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00:00 Highlights - The Birth of a Wedding Venue Dream
02:58 Navigating the Wedding Venue Landscape
06:11 Funding the Vision: From Idea to Reality
09:03 Marketing Strategies for Success
11:52 Understanding Demand and Market Fit
15:10 Building a Unique Venue in a Saturated Market
17:58 Financial Performance and Future Outlook
21:24 Exploring Wedding Venue Opportunities
23:21 Innovative Rental Services in the Wedding Industry
25:12 Understanding Supply and Demand in Wedding Services
27:32 Diversifying Event Offerings Beyond Weddings
30:20 The Importance of Alcohol Sales in Venue Revenue
32:42 Lessons Learned from Operating a Wedding Venue
35:02 Trends in the Wedding Industry
38:26 Maximizing Venue Potential with On-Site Accommodations
40:19 Advice for Aspiring Wedding Venue Owners

I sat down with Connor Gross (https://x.com/c_gro), for Part 2 of our discussion on creative business ideas. If you haven't listened to Part 1 (Episode #90), go check it out to get the full context!

In this episode, we talk about a "hole in one" challenge business in New Zealand that makes use of a lakeside setup to bring in around $650,000 in annual revenue. We also talk about how games of skill can be turned into sustainable business models, including franchise opportunities. Lastly, we came up with an idea for a build-your-own record player kit for kids, something that could be the next big thing, like an Easy-Bake Oven for vinyl lovers.

Check out Connor’s free newsletter! https://www.bizbrainstorms.com

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
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Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
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---
00:00 Innovative Business Ideas in Skill Games
02:47 The Viability of Skill-Based Gambling
06:09 Franchising Opportunities in Skill Games
08:58 The Nostalgia of Record Players
11:51 Creating Engaging Experiences for Kids
14:45 The Future of Physical Products in a Digital Age

HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I discuss four exciting ideas, but in this first part, we talk about two main ideas: growing a subreddit as a powerful business tool and a creative business-in-a-box solution for wantrepreneurs. We talk about how to effectively use Reddit as a growth hack, including automation tools like Zapier and AI, and also brainstorm a comprehensive package for those starting side hustles, but this is only Part 1 - stay tuned for the Part 2 next week!

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
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---
00:00 Introduction
02:50 Navigating Reddit for Growth
06:09 Leveraging AI and Automation
09:06 Practical Applications for Entrepreneurs
12:01 Creative Marketing Strategies
14:48 Innovative Business Ideas
18:10 Exploring New Monetization Opportunities
20:38 Business in a box idea

I sat down with Korey McDavid, founder of Juiced Fuel (https://juicedfuel.com/), to discuss the ins and outs of the mobile fuel delivery business. Korey shares how he came up with the idea, how he launched with under $100,000, and what it takes to manage a business that's breaking new ground in personal and marine fuel delivery. We also talk about the challenges of building a custom app, securing the first customers, and scaling.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
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---
00:00 Introduction to Juice Fuel and Its Origins
04:46 The Development of the Mobile Fuel Delivery App
10:00 Customer Acquisition and Initial Challenges
15:13 Pricing Strategy and Revenue Model
20:04 Future Expansion Plans and Market Positioning
25:00 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

I sat down with Connor Gross (https://x.com/c_gro), a familiar face on the podcast, to dive into some exciting new ideas and business strategies. We talked about productivity and how to truly gauge an employee's work speed, the challenges of the candle industry (since Connor’s dad owns a big candle business in New Jersey), and some innovative concepts for tackling these markets. This conversation was so packed with insights that we had to split it into two episodes! Make sure to tune in next week for Part 2, which, trust me, is even better.

Check out Connor’s free newsletter! https://www.bizbrainstorms.com

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
Scrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os
---
00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
00:57 Employee Productivity and Remote Work Challenges
02:48 Upwork and Multi-Job Dilemma
05:13 Management Solutions and Business Ideas
08:24 Speed and Efficiency in the Workplace
15:04 Candle Business and Unique Branding Ideas
17:06 Unusual Preferences and Niche Markets
17:19 Innovative Packaging Ideas
18:07 Candle Industry Insights
18:47 Marketing Strategies and Unique Selling Points
19:58 Exploring New Candle Concepts
20:23 The Liquid Death Approach
22:21 Refillable Candles and Home Decor
27:53 Scratch and Sniff Marketing
28:25 Collaborations and Personalization
31:33 Pet-Themed Candles and Programmatic SEO

HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I talk about three ideas in this episode, following up from Episode #86. We cover GPT for Google Sheets, a creative dating idea, and Water Finds. Plus, we play our 'marry, date, or kill' game to decide which idea we’d pursue, test, or drop. It's a fun, insightful episode, so be sure to share, like, and subscribe!

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
Scrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os
---
00:00 Monetizing Unique Ideas
01:07 Leveraging AI in Google Sheets
06:58 Data Cleaning and Integrity
11:28 Innovative Dating Solutions
19:10 Social Proof in Dating
24:22 Treasure Hunting and Content Creation
29:42 Business Ideas Recap

This is part four - THE FINAL PART of 'Every Business I've Ever Started'

If you want even more business ideas, check out the previous episodes  to hear about every business in episode #14, 21 and 79.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
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---
00:00 Introduction to Business Ventures
00:48 The Co-Founders Model
02:20 Copy Paste Site: A Unique Web Design Idea
03:55 Fulfillment Score: E-commerce Shipping Solutions
05:58 Scams and Lessons Learned
09:29 Innovative Products: Nomo Snore and Off Marketers
12:01 AI Guy: A Successful Newsletter
14:08 Startup Gems: AI Voice Cloning Experiment
16:55 The No BS Crypto Podcast
17:51 Twice Used: A Recycling Venture
20:40 Lawyers in China: A Lead Generation Service
23:13 My Modern Self: Delivering Ikea Furniture
25:12 Animal Aftercare: Programmatic SEO Business

I sat down with Shannon Houchin, the founder of Roadside Republic. In this episode, we discuss the incredible business model of roadside produce stands, which Shannon scaled to over 100 locations in her first summer, generating impressive revenue with minimal overhead.

We highlight why this business works so well, including its low startup costs (around $200), high margins (up to 70%), and lack of lease requirements or heavy regulation. Shannon shares the tactics she used, from finding the perfect locations to negotiating with wholesalers over the phone, making this a step-by-step guide for anyone looking to enter this profitable venture.

Learn more about Shannon's business here:
https://roadsiderepublic.com/
https://www.tiktok.com/@roadside_republic
https://www.facebook.com/RoadsideRepublic

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: http://tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
Scrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os
---
00:00 The Roadside Stand Revolution
02:52 From Reporter to Peach Entrepreneur
05:47 Scaling the Peach Business
09:09 The Art of Location and Visibility
12:05 Understanding Peach Quality and Sourcing
14:59 Transitioning to Online Sales and Delivery
17:46 Consumer Behavior and Pricing Strategies
24:58 Transforming Pricing Models in Produce Sales
29:12 Innovative Locations for Roadside Stands
32:32 Expanding Business Segments and Mobile Markets
34:59 Profitability and Sales Strategies for Roadside Stands
39:12 The Power of Storytelling in Sales
46:47 Comparing Business Models: Roadside Republic vs. Peach Truck

HoldCo Bros are back! Nik and I talk about three topics today. First, an update on our perfume vending machine business, now called Side Vending, as we expand to new vending machine concepts. It’s been a wild journey, and we’ve got some crazy stories to share.

Then, we break down the recent shutdown of a company called The Pro’s Closet and discuss how you can monetize other companies’ email lists - 300,000 email addresses that are going to waste! Finally, we talk about Negotiations as a Service, or as I like to put it, “Only eat when you eat.”

Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where we’ll talk about GPT for Google Sheet and all the many ways you can use AI inside Excel or Google Sheets, a creative dating idea, and a business called Water Finds that we think you’ll find interesting. Be sure to share, like, and subscribe!

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: http://tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
Scrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os
---
00:00 Introduction and Today's Agenda
00:34 Perfume Vending Machine Business Update
04:08 The Pro's Closet Shutdown
09:38 Opportunities in Email Monetization
12:25 Buying a Business Out of Bankruptcy
13:00 Owning Commercial Real Estate and Restaurants
14:12 Introduction to Pharmacy Benefit Managers
14:53 Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs
18:35 Business Opportunity in Pharmacy Negotiations
22:24 How to Get Your First Customer
25:03 Marry, Date, or Kill: Evaluating Business Ideas
27:06 Upcoming Topics and Conclusion

I sat down with Henry O'Brien, founder of SUSO Skate Co., who launched a mobile roller skating business during the COVID pandemic and saw it explode in popularity. In his first three months, Henry made $120k at 30-40% margins, which eventually grew to 70% net margins. Henry sets up mobile roller rinks in malls, parking lots, or any available space, making roller skating accessible to communities everywhere.

We talked about his launch strategy, the numbers, user-generated content, PR and marketing tactics, and how he managed to sell into malls. If you're curious about starting a unique business model or achieving high-profit margins, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Henry's business here:
https://www.susoskateco.com/
https://www.instagram.com/susoskateco/
https://www.tiktok.com/@susoskateco

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: http://tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
Scrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os
---
00:00 The Birth of Suso Skate Co.
03:05 Navigating the Pandemic and Finding Opportunity
05:49 Marketing Strategies and Media Engagement
09:08 The Unique Venue: Bentway
11:57 Understanding Product-Market Fit
14:50 Financial Insights and Unit Economics
18:06 User-Generated Content and Social Media Impact
20:55 Operational Challenges and Growth Plans
24:12 Quality Control and Insurance Considerations
32:05 Navigating Insurance and Liability in Recreational Business
35:26 The Evolution of Roller Skating: Fad or Trend?
38:22 Staffing Strategies for Busy Days
39:45 Expanding into Malls: A Strategic Move
44:55 Understanding Mall Dynamics and Revenue Models
48:45 Challenges of Outdoor Locations and Weather Impact
50:40 The Transition to Indoor Locations
54:27 Mobile Roller Skating: A New Business Model
01:00:04 Future Plans: Licensing vs. Franchising