The Business of Branding

In this episode of The Business of Branding Podcast, Nikki sits down with Michelle Lynn, founder of The Leaguelle and co-founder of the women’s fishing apparel brand Real Skipper. A Cornell Law graduate and experienced entrepreneur, Michelle blends legal expertise with firsthand business knowledge to make trademarking approachable, empowering, and essential for every entrepreneur.They dive into Michelle’s journey from apparel entrepreneur to trademark attorney, the messy realities of product-based businesses, and the lessons she learned about timing, risk, and brand protection. Michelle breaks down the trademark process step-by-step, shares the biggest mistakes business owners make, and explains why protecting your intellectual property is non-negotiable if you want to grow and scale with confidence.What You’ll LearnMichelle’s unique path from running a women’s fishing apparel brand to building her own modern trademark practice.Why trademarking should happen as early as possible (ideally before you launch).The difference between broad audiences vs. niche services — and why her narrow focus on trademarks works.The realities of apparel entrepreneurship: cash flow, manufacturing hurdles, and financial strain.Why “nobody really knows what they’re doing” in business—and why that’s empowering.How to navigate the trademark timeline, risk levels, and office actions.The hidden costs of avoiding trademarks—like lawsuits, forced rebrands, and investor hesitations.Michelle’s biggest lessons from entrepreneurship: the value of confidence, leaning on experts, and laying strong foundations for your brand.https://www.theleaguelle.com/https://www.instagram.com/the.lawtrepreneur/https://www.facebook.com/theleaguelleFree Trademark Consultation: https://theleaguelle.as.me/businessofbranding

In this episode of The Business of Branding Podcast, Nikki sits down with Ashley Linnane and Tori Overmyer, the co-founders of BreakRoom Marketing, a boutique social media agency redefining what it means to create and manage content with purpose. Together, they share their unconventional paths from hairstyling, teaching, and photography into building a thriving agency rooted in strategy, creativity, and genuine partnership.You’ll hear candid stories about leaving the coaching industry, navigating burnout, scaling through hiring, and surviving the inevitable rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. They also reveal how they differentiate Break Room in a crowded space by focusing on ROI, creating organic content that feels human, and supporting clients like true business partners—not just content schedulers.If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to build an agency, find the right business partner, or scale without losing your integrity, this episode will inspire and ground you.What You’ll LearnHow Tori and Ashley co-founded BreakRoom MarketingWhy burnout in the coaching industry led them to seek more tangible, fulfilling work.The importance of partnership in entrepreneurshipBreak Room’s differentiatorsThe messy middle of scalingWhy brand strategy is more important than ever in the age of AI content creationTheir advice for entrepreneurs just starting out.Links & Resources:Follow BreakRoom Marketing on InstagramVisit the BreakRoom Marketing WebsiteConnect with Nikki on Instagram: @nikkiarensmanFollow The Business of Brand Podcast InstagramReady to start your personal brand and kick off your creator journey?! Create your full brand identity including a logo, color palette and font pairings using Brand Identity Breakthrough!

From Palm Beach boutiques to TikTok virality, Holland has mastered the art of pivoting - in business, style, and life. In this episode, Nikki sits down with her longtime friend and fashion content creator, Holland Paterno, to talk about building a thriving brand, navigating the influencer world, and preparing for her biggest role yet: motherhood.You’ll hear how Holland went from retail jobs and toxic workplaces to creating a sustainable business through affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, and a whole lot of creative grit. She opens up about hitting the “sweet spot” on TikTok, why she’ll never fully niche down, and how she’s planning her maternity leave while keeping her business running smoothly.Whether you’re an aspiring content creator, a fashion lover, or a fellow entrepreneur trying to juggle all the things, Holland’s story will inspire you to embrace the pivots, trust your instincts, and build a brand that feels like you.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Holland’s path from mattress sales to full-time content creatorHow she built her business through the Amazon Influencer Program & LTKThe role pivoting plays in sustainable business growthNavigating brand partnerships & staying aligned with your valuesBalancing business and motherhood (and what she’s planning for maternity leave)Why authenticity and community matter more than follower countLinks & Resources:Follow Holland on Instagram: @hollandpaternoShop Holland’s Amazon storefrontShop Holland's LTK StorefrontConnect with Nikki on Instagram: @nikkiarensmanFollow The Business of Brand Podcast InstagramThis episode was recorded and filmed at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida. If you're looking for a luxury podcasting experience in a top of class studio - that is the place to do it!Ready to start your personal brand and kick off your creator journey?! Create your full brand identity including a logo, color palette and font pairings using Brand Identity Breakthrough!

Motherhood and entrepreneurship often become a mirror for each other. In this episode, we dive into the polarity of both of them and how to shift perspective if you begin to feel the overwhelm of either. We are joined by Jen Szpigiel, the founder and CEO of Becoming Iconic, a 7 figure global business & leadership brand that elevates entrepreneurs who desire to create a 7 figure legacy. Jen recently lost access to all of her social media accounts and talks us through what that has been like and how she approached moving forward from ground zero when it came to her ‘following’ - spoiler alert: its realllyyyy good. Jen is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for anyone building their own empire (especially Moms!) and how to stay in a state of abundance through the ebbs and flows. Episode highlights: 02:40 - Jen’s journey as a mom that made her decide to start her own business 06:05 - First time mom Nikki and why she decide to sell her clothing line 10:00 - Changes in family set up over the generation 20:45 - Jen’s social media strategy and how she handled losing all of her social media handles 32:27 - The difference of “just” showing up vs showing up “intentionally” 40:18 - Setting up boundaries for your social media content and finding the best platform for you and your businessLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

How can you stand out as an authority brand in a saturated market? So excited to connect with another fellow Brand Strategy gal, Steph Weber who is the CEO of The Weber Co - a full-service brand coaching & done-for-you agency. Today, Steph brings a fresh perspective on what it means to build an Authority Brand and how to carve out YOUR space on the internet. We dive into why knowing your vision is so important, the things to get started on right away to build a strong brand foundation and how messaging and knowing who your ideal avatar is impacts the longevity of your business. More About Steph and The Weber Co. through their website www.theweberco.com Connect with Steph via Instagram @stephnweberLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

Struggling on generating consistent leads and generating them as paid clients? A few days ago I polled my Instagram audience for best topics to record for solo episode and as per your request I’ve come with this helpful topic to help you. Generating leads is just one of the struggles of entrepreneurs and converting them to sales is just another. I dive into the different types of leads I am always aware of and the different ways that I generate both client & customer leads. I focus a lot on how I do this in a really simple way that is efficient because.. you know, mom life! Episode highlights: 01:33 - Current social media platforms I’m on and other future content plans 06:14 - My definition of clients and customers 08:21 - My lead generation mechanism for growing my email list 12:48 - My low ticket funnel and how it helped grow both my Instagram audience and my business 21:05 - My second lead generation mechanism and how it converts audience into my email list, paid low ticket funnel customers and wider audience and following growth. Take a peek at Brand Identity Breakthrough that I referenced a few times in the episode!Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

This episode is.... amazing. To be honest, I was personally taking notes during several moments while simultaneously prepping the next question for Brandi. I am excited to introduce you to Brandi Mowles - a mama and marketing genius who has scaled her business to 7-figures in just under 2 years while keeping her team small and mighty (just 3 people, including herself!). She is all about simple systems and CONSISTENCY - which has paid off immensely for her and can for you too. In this episode, she shares about her own business structure, how she consistently brings in monthly revenue through her launch methods, and how you can implement this in your own biz. Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Brandi: brandimowles.com IG: @brandimowles Million Dollar TrainingLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

Quick solo mini-episode from my car! I did an IG Live and wanted to share it here on the podcast because the content itself is really actionable! In this episode, I am sharing the #1 thing you have to know about your ideal client if you want to create sell-out offers that they GOTTA HAVE! I also include examples and ways to implement this so you can start applying it to your messaging and business right away! Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook WebsiteLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

This week we are welcoming Holly Haynes to the show and get ready...because it's packed with tips and tricks to maximize your time and make the most out of the hours you're working in a day! Holly has built a successful business while working on a super part-time schedule and growing her family. What I love so much about this conversation are her clear actionable tips that can be tested out and applied to your work schedule if you're needing to reduce your hours spent at the computer! Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Holly: Hollymariehaynes.com IG: @holly_marie_haynes Pod - Crush the RushLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

User Generated Content (aka UGC) is one of the best ways to get your audience excited and sharing your products or services. Elizabeth McNevins is the founder of Sociale Agency where she daily witnesses all the ways the UGC is giving her clients a major return on their time & money by amplifying sales. Whether it's through paid advertising or organic content, there are tons of opportunities here! In this episode, we break down what UGC is and Elizabeth shares lots of examples so that you can start creating for your own business and reaping the benefits. There is also a Free Checklist with 27 hacks to unlock the power of user generated content that has your name all over it! Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Elizabeth: socialeconsulting.com Authentic Ad Accelorator IG: @socialelizabeth FB: /socialeconsultingLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

Stephanie is the Co-Founder of Socialfly and Entreprenista, alongside her business partner, Courtney Spritzer. For the last decade, they have built their businesses from the ground up through networking and community building. If anyone knows the value of having a community, it's Stephanie! She and I connected through a networking group during 2020 and totally hit it off, sharing about our ups and downs as female founders and how we wished we had a strong community for guidance, support (and let's be honest, to vent!) when we got started many years ago. When Stephanie told me she was going to create this community, I was so excited to become a member! In this episode, we will dive into Stephanie's background and how she got started and share more info about the community she is building and the importance of connection when you're trying to grow and scale your business. Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Stephanie: Sign-up For The League IG: @stephjillcartin IG: @entreprenistasLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

What mom doesn't agree that putting toxic polish on our little's fingers is a bad choice - and that there must be a better product?! This was exactly Melanie Hurley's thoughts 13 years ago when she had an a-ha moment that sparked the birth of Piggy Paint. Melanie is a mom of 2 and over the last decade has changed the nail polish industry for good. Listen in to learn how she got started, where the name piggy paint came from, and how she stays inspired to keep expanding the business! Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Melanie: piggypaint.com IG - @piggypaintLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

For Laura Taylor, starting Mingle Mocktails was a no-brainer decision for her. After seeing how alcohol was affecting her life she embarked on a sober journey and was frustrated at the lack of alcohol-free drink options that didn't scream 'I'M NOT DRINKING!'. After some research, she dove in on creating Mingle Mocktails and hasn't looked back. Laura shares her story, her struggles, and how her path to becoming an entrepreneur allowed her to truly own her power and her truth in living an Alcohol-Free lifestyle! Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Laura: www.minglemocktails.com IG: @minglemocktails FB: /MingleMocktailsLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

Former middle school teacher turned email copywriter, Brittany Long, is changing the way business owners look at their email list. She owns an evergreen email agency called Win With Systems and helps business owners make the most out of their email list through automated, on-going, year long email sequences that do the selling (and nurturing!) for you. After a cancer scare, she realized just how valuable her time is, and perhaps it wasn't best spent inside the classroom. After trying out 27 different side hustles, she found the thing that not only creates massive growth for her clients but follows her truth which is freedom on Friday for everyone! Tune in for her best tips on how to get started writing consistent emails to your list. Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Brittany: IG: @thequeenofevergreen winwithsystems.com Welcome and Wow CourseLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

Lauren Boyd left her corporate job in business law to start her own Legal Firm. Through her practice, Guide My Business, Lauren empowers entrepreneurs to build a strong foundation for their businesses through relationship-focused legal advice. We dive deep into her hiring process (an unintentional but super powerful conversation!) and then Lauren answers hot questions about trademarking - like, should you consider doing a trademark search before you start a brand design process?! If you want to learn how to grow your team and your business's intellectual property, this is the episode for you! Also! Lauren is hiring for full-time and part-time attorneys to join her growing team. These are fully remote positions! Reach out to her for more details. Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Lauren: IG: @guidemybusiness & @thelaurenboyd Website: thelaurenboyd.com & guidemybusiness.co Shop: thelaurenboyd.com/shopLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

Maureen was raised by her entrepreneur parents in Kenya - she quickly realized entrepreneurship was not very common in her community and that her beliefs were different than others around her because of it. Maureen's brainpower is behind some of the brands you know and love like Chobani, Loreal, and Dove. Maureen’s zone of genius is her rare ability to connect with a market and turn real data into brand growth strategies that drive multi-million dollar growth. This episode is a MUST LISTEN if you are at any stage (idea stage - thriving stage in the market) of a product-based business... but also if you just want to be blown away by killer marketing tips! Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Maureen: www.startwardconsulting.com Product Profit Lab Big Brand Academy Facebook Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

Donatella Arpaia spent her summers in Italy, was quite literally raised in a restaurant, and at the age of 27 - ditched her career in Law to follow in her family's footsteps and open up her first Restaurant. She is now a mom of 3, a regular judge on Food Network's Iron Chef, and has years and years of insight that she shares in this episode. From being young and naive living her dreams in New York City while she built her career, to pivoting during the pandemic, to now putting her health and self-care first... this episode is a must-listen if you want to be inspired and uplifted...and also if you like meatballs! Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Donatella: donatella.com @donatellaarpaia Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

Listen in to hear how Berkley went from Law School to litigation career to then being the go-to legal support system for women in these online communities she joined. Ultimately this has led her to opening up her own legal practice and helping women be legally educated and covered in their business from the very start. She shares her Top 5 must-haves to be legally protected and a peek into her work/life balance of being a mom and an entrepreneur. Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Berkley: berkleysweetapple.com @berkleysweetappleLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

This episode is filled with so many good tips if you are just getting started with marketing in your business. We talk about why having a strong foundation is truly the #1 thing you can do for your business and Emily also breaks down her unique 5-step marketing system called The Not For Lazy Marketers Process. Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Emily: hirshmarketing.com Hirsh Marketing Podcast IG: @emilyhirshLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website

In this episode, I'm chatting with Annie Hillman who is the founder of Atlas Bookkeeping, a full-service bookkeeping agency that is on a mission to make financials... fun?!!  We dive into some of the common bookkeeping mistakes when you're DIY'ing it, how to know when it is time to hire a bookkeeper, and we chat a little bit about the different stages of your business and what that might mean for your profits. Lets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website Connect with Annie: @atlasbookkepingco atlasbookkeepingco.com Free Bookkeeping Basics GuideLets Connect: Instagram Facebook Website