Claim OwnershipLost & Found: Small Business Stories from the Rural Midwest
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© 2024 Lost & Found: Small Business Stories from the Rural Midwest
Description
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 one goal... to help them fall back in love with their business and find a renewed passion for their work. And they do. And that changes everything. These are their stories.
25 Episodes
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MacKenzie Dohmann believes in being unique and making the ordinary extraordinary. She has always felt the desire to be her own boss and at a young age pursued a degree in business and entrepreneurship. After school, she worked at a large bakery and grew her childhood passion of baking that was ignited by her mom in their home kitchen. During the pandemic, MacKenzie learned about sourdough and perfected the process. Soon she was setting up at farmers markets and community events selling her b...
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 reta...
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 Food...
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 chal...
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.&...
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 co...
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 ...
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, establis...
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 St...
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...
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 ...
Toni Koch, owner of Rejuvenate Salon & Spa in New London, MN believes in empowering people to be the best version of themselves. Toni is changing the cosmetology game by establishing a salon that empowers both the staffing team and the clients they serve. Toni fought through COVID with ingenuity and perseverance, coming out the other side with new found motivation and a strengthened customer base. Listen in as we hear from Toni and the work she is doing to create positiv...
Tamara Kojic` has expertise around building company culture, retaining and attracting new employees, strategic game planning around the future of your organization, and creating community. She believes in the power of community building to create impactful experiences, strong organizational culture, increase employee engagement and generate positive change. She works with organizations across the globe to help them create a clear vision for who they are and where they are going.&n...
Retail can be tough. It take "grit & grace" and a willingness to adapt and change. Listen in as Melissa Syring, owner of Falls Boutique in Granite Falls MN and Nick McGillivray, owner of Sam's Outdoor & More in St. Joseph MN share about their journey and perspective into retail. These two businesses participated in Startup Reinvention together working through roadblocks and coming out the other side with new motivation and business goals. Learn mo...
Kim Madsen believes connections transform our lives and sometimes even saves them. Kim is a speaker and a coach and the owner of K.Madsen Consulting in Willmar, MN. Kim also created the area's premier annual women's event, CultivateHer. Join us to hear more about Kim's journey to entrepreneurship, her 'why', and the impact she is making on the universe. Learn more about the marketing un/academy
Beth & Darryl were ready for a change. Listen in to hear how this couple took the leap of faith to leave the metro and pursue a love of coaching, community and baseball in Lester Prairie, MN. They believe everyone should feel safe expressing themselves through sport. #unleashyourinnerathlete #unleashyourinnerstory Learn more about the marketing un/academy
Josh Kaeter works to connect cultures and share stories through coffee. He is the owner of Eminent Coffee in Sartell, MN which opened its doors in 2022. Josh started his coffee journey while serving in the Marine Corps, looking for a natural caffeine source while falling in love with coffee and the culture connected to it. Join us as we talk with Josh and learn about his journey around the globe, spending time at coffee farms, learning about roasting, and starting his own small business near ...
Mike Bregel believes we are all magical beings. He has worked to combine his love of all things mystical with his incredible talent as an illustrator and artist to create a gaming company that awakens the inner wizard in all of us. Listen in as we interview Mike and learn about his leap into entrepreneurship, his launch of a successful Kickstarter, the creation of "Wizards & Relics" and the power of retreating to your "mind palace". Learn more about the marketing un/academy
Kayla and Laura, co-owners of Korppi Coffee and Bakeshop share their journey of chasing the entrepreneurial dream that led them to open their first coffee and bakeshop in St. Cloud, MN. Learn more about the marketing un/academy
Tobias Flood and Mark Eiden are "just a couple young guys that love cutting, grinding and welding metal" according to their Facebook page! They are actually savvy business partners who are changing the culture of their industry because they believe "creativity belongs in manufacturing." We got to know them at a 2019 Bootcamp and have watched their business grow and evolve in exciting ways. Learn how these young, ambitious entrepreneurs have made it this far and are planning for continue...
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