Advice Line with Tony Lamb of Kona Ice
2Digest
This episode of How I Built This Lab features Tony Lamb, founder of Kona Ice, as he provides advice to callers about building and scaling their businesses. The first caller, Dylan Richter, co-founder of a candy store called The Sweet Spot, seeks advice on expanding his business and potentially franchising it. Tony encourages Dylan to consider the joy and happiness his business brings to the community and to focus on creating a unique and memorable experience for customers. The second caller, Zach Dietz, founder of Just Fuzz, a company that sells needle felting kits, asks for advice on marketing a product that most people are unaware of. Tony suggests focusing on in-person demonstrations at craft shows and farmer's markets, creating engaging time-lapse videos for social media, and leveraging content marketing through a blog. The final caller, Jennifer Bradwood, founder of Bradenwood Design Studio, a small product design firm specializing in modern home decor, seeks strategies to grow her e-commerce sales and brand awareness without a large budget. Tony encourages Jennifer to explore partnerships with local businesses, leverage her blog for content marketing, and consider taking big swings to reach a wider audience. Throughout the episode, Tony emphasizes the importance of finding a sweet spot in business, enjoying the journey, and not always striving to conquer the world. He shares his own experiences with Kona Ice and the challenges of scaling a business, highlighting the importance of finding a balance between growth and happiness.
Outlines
Introduction
This Chapter introduces the show, How I Built This Lab, and its host, Guy Raz. It also mentions that Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to the show early and ad-free.
Advice Line with Tony Lamb
This Chapter features Tony Lamb, founder of Kona Ice, as he joins Guy Raz on the advice line to help callers with their business challenges. Tony shares his insights and experiences as a successful entrepreneur and franchise owner.
Caller 1: Dylan Richter, The Sweet Spot
This Chapter features Dylan Richter, co-founder of a candy store called The Sweet Spot, who seeks advice on expanding his business and potentially franchising it. Tony encourages Dylan to consider the joy and happiness his business brings to the community and to focus on creating a unique and memorable experience for customers.
Caller 2: Zach Dietz, Just Fuzz
This Chapter features Zach Dietz, founder of Just Fuzz, a company that sells needle felting kits, who asks for advice on marketing a product that most people are unaware of. Tony suggests focusing on in-person demonstrations at craft shows and farmer's markets, creating engaging time-lapse videos for social media, and leveraging content marketing through a blog.
Caller 3: Jennifer Bradwood, Bradenwood Design Studio
This Chapter features Jennifer Bradwood, founder of Bradenwood Design Studio, a small product design firm specializing in modern home decor, who seeks strategies to grow her e-commerce sales and brand awareness without a large budget. Tony encourages Jennifer to explore partnerships with local businesses, leverage her blog for content marketing, and consider taking big swings to reach a wider audience.
Tony's Perspective on Business Growth
This Chapter features Tony Lamb reflecting on the importance of finding a sweet spot in business, enjoying the journey, and not always striving to conquer the world. He shares his own experiences with Kona Ice and the challenges of scaling a business, highlighting the importance of finding a balance between growth and happiness.
Closing and Call to Action
This Chapter concludes the episode with Tony Lamb expressing his gratitude for being on the show and encouraging listeners to check out the Kona Ice episode. Guy Raz also encourages listeners to submit their own business questions and voice memos for a chance to be featured on the show.
Keywords
Kona Ice
Kona Ice is a franchise of shaved ice trucks that was founded by Tony Lamb in northern Kentucky. The company is known for its colorful trucks, variety of flavors, and focus on providing a fun and refreshing experience for customers. Kona Ice has grown to include over 1,850 trucks across the United States, making it a successful and recognizable brand in the shaved ice industry.
Franchise
A franchise is a business model where a franchisor grants a franchisee the right to operate a business under the franchisor's name and system. The franchisee pays a fee to the franchisor in exchange for the right to use the franchisor's brand, trademarks, and operating procedures. Franchising allows entrepreneurs to start a business with a proven model and established brand recognition. Kona Ice is a successful example of a franchise model, with over 1,850 franchisees across the United States.
Small Business
A small business is a company that is independently owned and operated, with a limited number of employees and a relatively small revenue. Small businesses play a vital role in the economy, providing jobs, innovation, and local services. The episode features several callers who are small business owners seeking advice on growing their businesses and overcoming challenges.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the process of starting and running a business, often involving innovation, risk-taking, and the creation of new products or services. The episode highlights the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, featuring successful entrepreneurs like Tony Lamb and aspiring entrepreneurs seeking advice.
Marketing
Marketing is the process of creating, communicating, and delivering value to customers and managing customer relationships in ways that benefit the organization. The episode explores various marketing strategies, including social media marketing, content marketing, and influencer marketing, as callers seek advice on growing their businesses and reaching a wider audience.
Needle Felting
Needle felting is a craft technique that involves using a barbed needle to interlock fibers of wool, creating three-dimensional sculptures, figures, and other objects. The episode features a caller who sells needle felting kits and seeks advice on marketing a product that most people are unaware of. Needle felting is a relatively niche craft, but it has gained popularity in recent years as a relaxing and creative hobby.
Home Decor
Home decor refers to the items and furnishings used to decorate and style a home. The episode features a caller who designs and sells modern home decor products, including plant stands, plant hangers, and shelves. Home decor is a popular and competitive market, with a wide range of styles and trends.
Content Marketing
Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action. The episode highlights the importance of content marketing for businesses, particularly for those seeking to build brand awareness and reach a wider audience.
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing involves using social media platforms to connect with customers, build relationships, and promote products or services. The episode explores the use of social media marketing for businesses, including the creation of engaging content, the use of paid advertising, and the importance of building a strong online presence.
E-commerce
E-commerce refers to the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet. The episode features several callers who operate e-commerce businesses and seek advice on growing their sales and reaching a wider audience. E-commerce has become increasingly popular in recent years, offering businesses a convenient and global platform to reach customers.
Q&A
What are some strategies for marketing a product that most people are unaware of, like needle felting kits?
Tony suggests focusing on in-person demonstrations at craft shows and farmer's markets, creating engaging time-lapse videos for social media, and leveraging content marketing through a blog. He emphasizes the importance of creating a strong visual presence and showcasing the process of needle felting in a way that is both informative and engaging.
How can a small product design firm grow its e-commerce sales and brand awareness without a large budget?
Tony encourages Jennifer to explore partnerships with local businesses, leverage her blog for content marketing, and consider taking big swings to reach a wider audience. He suggests partnering with home staging companies, event spaces, and party planners to showcase her products and build brand awareness. He also emphasizes the importance of creating valuable content that educates and inspires potential customers.
What are some key considerations for entrepreneurs when deciding whether to scale their business?
Tony emphasizes the importance of finding a sweet spot in business, enjoying the journey, and not always striving to conquer the world. He suggests that entrepreneurs should consider their own happiness and lifestyle goals when making decisions about growth and expansion. He warns against the potential for diminishing returns and the increased complexity that comes with scaling a business.
How can a small business owner create a unique and memorable experience for customers?
Tony encourages Dylan to focus on creating a joyful and nostalgic experience for customers at his candy store. He suggests incorporating elements that evoke a sense of childhood wonder and create a strong sense of community. He believes that by creating a unique and memorable experience, small businesses can stand out from the competition and build customer loyalty.
What are some ways to leverage content marketing to build brand awareness and drive sales?
Tony suggests that Jennifer use her blog to create valuable content that educates and inspires potential customers. He recommends focusing on topics that are relevant to her target audience, such as home styling tips and plant care advice. He believes that by providing valuable content for free, Jennifer can attract a wider audience and build trust with potential customers.
How can a small business owner overcome the challenge of introducing a new product or concept to the market?
Tony encourages Zach to be patient and persistent in his efforts to introduce needle felting to a wider audience. He suggests starting with in-person demonstrations at craft shows and farmer's markets to build awareness and generate interest. He also emphasizes the importance of creating engaging content that showcases the process and the results of needle felting.
What are some tips for creating engaging social media content?
Tony suggests using time-lapse videos to showcase the process of needle felting in a visually appealing and engaging way. He also recommends experimenting with different types of content, such as close-up shots of the finished products, animated videos, and even voiceovers. He believes that by creating a variety of engaging content, businesses can capture the attention of their target audience and build a strong online presence.
How can a small business owner find the right balance between growth and happiness?
Tony emphasizes the importance of finding a sweet spot in business, where entrepreneurs can achieve financial success while also maintaining a healthy work-life balance. He suggests that entrepreneurs should consider their own happiness and lifestyle goals when making decisions about growth and expansion. He warns against the potential for diminishing returns and the increased complexity that comes with scaling a business.
What are some key factors to consider when deciding whether to franchise a business?
Tony encourages Dylan to consider the unique aspects of his candy store that make it special and appealing to customers. He suggests that Dylan should focus on creating a strong brand identity and a consistent customer experience that can be replicated across multiple locations. He also emphasizes the importance of finding the right franchisees who share his vision and values.
Show Notes
Kona Ice co-founder and CEO Tony Lamb joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders.
Today we meet Dylan, who’s wondering how to tell if his small town Illinois candy store is a winning franchise idea. Then Zach, a Wall Street trader trying to bring a popular Asian craft to the U.S. And Jennifer, a designer in San Diego looking to promote her home decor brand on social media—without paying big bucks to influencers.
If you’d like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you’d like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298.
And be sure to listen to Kona Ice’s founding story on the show from November 2023.
This episode was produced by Casey Herman with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Cena Loffredo.
You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com. And sign up for Guy’s free newsletter at guyraz.com.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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