This Is Small Business

What if the idea for your next business is rooted in something you’ve known your whole life?Jake DeLeon grew up helping his mom and grandmother make Filipino food to sell to their neighbors. Years later, after his first business closed, those familiar flavors inspired a fresh start and a chance to bring Filipino cuisine to more grocery shelves.In this episode of This Is Small Business, Jake joins host Andrea Marquez to share how he built Fila Manila while caring for his dad and what his first business taught him about doing things differently the second time. Over banana ketchup and fries, they talk about reaching the right customers, the Shark Tank appearance that transformed his online sales, and growing a brand without losing what makes it personal.Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ThisissmallbusinessIn this episode of This Is Small Business, you’ll learn:(01:12) — How family cooking sparked a career in food and led to entrepreneurship(03:10) — What a first business can teach you about building your next(06:58) — The family support behind getting onto grocery shelves(09:13) — How Shark Tank transformed Fila Manila’s online sales(13:04) — Why embracing your culture can help your brand stand out

Sometimes, the best business ideas can spring from some of our deepest insecurities.Jessica Rosales and Carlos Torres grew up feeling like "no sabo kids" — not quite fluent enough, not quite connected enough to the culture they came from. But instead of burying that insecurity, they turned it into Yo Sabo, a popular bilingual card game designed to help families reconnect through language.In this episode of This Is Small Business, the married couple shares how a simple night at the dog park turned into a real company, why they bet their savings on an initial order of 500 units, and how man-on-the-street interviews at a theme park helped their game go viral.From selling out inventory before it even landed in the US, to fighting off counterfeits, to Jessica finally quitting her job after their sales passed a million dollars — this conversation is about building something that means more than the product itself.Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ThisissmallbusinessIn this episode of This Is Small Business, you’ll learn:(01:11) — How insecurity became a business idea(03:16) — The questions that turned an idea into a real product(05:29) — Why showing people play your product beats telling them about it(08:09) —Why a beautiful website isn't enough without customer trust(09:40) — What happens when counterfeits flood your listing(11:02) — What happens when your side project turns into a full-time business

Running a business rarely goes exactly as planned. Sometimes the idea comes from an insecurity you cannot shake. Sometimes growth means questioning the habits that got you this far. And sometimes the best advice sounds completely ridiculous until it starts to work.In this latest season of This Is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez sits down with founders to unpack the moments that shaped their businesses. This season, those conversations unfold through competitive games, crafts and one very cute four-legged guest, bringing us closer to the products, ideas and experiences behind each story.We’ll be getting honest about burnout, failure, identity and the deeply personal reasons people choose to build something of their own. Because there is no right way to be an entrepreneur.Watch the trailer on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Thisissmallbusiness

Data can tell you who your customers are, what they’re searching for and what to test next – if you know what to look for.In this Small Business Byte on This Is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez explores how founders can use data to make smarter business decisions. You’ll hear from Alejandro Lopez, founder of Toma Beverage Company, on using customer demographics and purchasing patterns to shape marketing and product development; Katie Diasti, founder of Viv, on using keyword research and online sales data to guide new products, bundles and retail expansion; and April Wachtel, founder of Cheeky Cocktails, on testing whether faster delivery could increase sales.Their stories show how one useful pattern can lead to better products, marketing and customer experiences.What could your business data help you do next? Share it with us in a Spotify or YouTube comment, or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Sources:If you want to know more about Toma Beverage Company, listen to Alejandro Lopez’s story here: https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/8e217b7f-8570-4d6f-8aa9-d215dac74295?d=e5yds1dHS&v=4512 If you want to know more about Viv, listen to Katie Diasti’s story here: https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/c9324772-0b7c-4f8b-b278-d243b3114835?d=eJdUE-_b7&v=7365 If you want to know more about Cheeky Cocktails, listen to April Wachtel’s story here: https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/87d3ea85-42e1-4c8e-a727-c21909fd5098?d=ePH7rs1r3&v=5060

Your culture may already be shaping your business – through the problem you noticed, the traditions that inspired you, or the story behind your product. Bringing those influences forward can help customers understand what makes your brand distinct and why it exists.In this Small Business Byte on This Is Small Business, host Andrea Marquez explores how founders can make culture a visible and authentic part of their brands. You’ll hear from Akruti Babaria, founder of Kulture Khazana, on why telling authentic stories can help customers understand what makes your brand different, and from Alejandro Lopez, founder of Toma Beverage Company, on how changes to your packaging, language and messaging can bring your culture forward and help customers connect with your brand.Their stories show how culture can give a business roots and become something competitors won’t easily replicate.What’s one part of your brand that could feel more like you? Share it with us in a Spotify or YouTube comment, or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.Sources:If you want to hear more about Kulture Khazana, listen to Akruti Babaria’s story here:https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/5fc4f66d-84a0-4495-944e-5ffd11558055?d=eRN_gJwDH&v=9209 If you want to hear more about Toma Beverage Company, listen to Alejandro Lopez’s story here:https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/8e217b7f-8570-4d6f-8aa9-d215dac74295?d=e5yds1dHS&v=6734