Tune in to Episode 31 with Clint Weiler of Fun Dungeon. We started this conversation in the dungeon surrounded by the sights and sounds of 80s and 90s arcade games. We chat about Clint’s background in the music, entertainment, and gaming business. It was these endeavors that allow Clint to keep one foot in the now and the other planted firmly in childhood nostalgia. We touch on all things arcade games, nostalgia, and bringing a true third-place alive for people. We talk about how entrepreneurial endeavors can start bit by bit, until they eventually lead to a launch. We also address the concept of thematic layering in business and bringing several different types of people together under one business plan. The Fun Dungeon is a place for fun, community, nostalgic vibes, and good drink. Grab a drink and tune in to Leverage and Beverage to hear all about what lies in wait in the Fun Dungeon.

Tune in to Episode 30 with Raegan Kelly of Better For All. We touch on Raegan’s background in the film industry and how her side side quest became her main journey. Better For All looks to fill the void in the sustainability industry with a solution to the many problems in the waste management and recycling industry. There are ideals in these arenas, but what happens when things inevitably get off this path? Better For All creates compostable cups that are made out of a bio-plastic. In a sea of people looking at waste management, maybe the age-old compost bin is the solution. We also talk about a lot of misconceptions in the world of waste management and recycling. Grab a drink and tune in to Leverage and Beverage to hear about all about the world's first certified home compostable cups.

Tune in to Episode 29 with Tyler Kropp of HydroPower Exterior Cleaning. We hit on his background and entry into the home services industry as well as the story of how he got his first gig. We also dive head first into the process of scaling a business like this with zero outside capital and the concept of heavily using the resources readily available to us. We touch on all the services they offer as well as how new offerings enter the mix and dovetail into current offerings. We chat about the dilemma of a college education, Shark Tank, marketing tactics, as well as what he has in store for 2024. Grab a Lime Bubly, and tune in to Leverage & Beverage with HydroPower.

Tune in to Episode 28 with Tom Nicholls, or “Tom of All Trades.” This name is appropriate for a few reasons. Tom is fully employed in terms of receiving a W2 income, but also has several side hustles, which compliment and round out the legs of his proverbial stool. While earning a full time income at Boeing, Tom also has his own remodeling company, does home flipping, and dabbles quite a bit in the market. The list goes on. Our conversation is something that is a huge topic for people. The ability to have a primary income generator and then one or several side projects, side hustles, or income streams that can either compliment or even exceed full time employment income. We also chat on various other topics such as business models, business processes, finances, time management, and balance. This is a great episode to learn and explore how to expand your reach as an entrepreneur. You can reach Tom at: Tncompany90@gmail.com

Tune in to Episode 27 with Stephen Tuck of Anglo American Tools. Anglo American is a wholesaler in the business of the finest European hand tools. Listen to our chat about his growing up in England and early dreams of becoming a professional soccer player. He learned, however, that he was destined for another path. We dive into him being a second generation business owner and working his way up through the company, by working in various different roles. We talk about international business issues that can arise, wholesaler/distributor relationships, and establishing a business with the principles of hard work and integrity. We also talk about investments that business owners make both from a marketing perspective and an inventory perspective. We also discovered our mutual love of a well-poured beer. Grab a beer, and tune in to Leverage & Beverage with Anglo American Tools.

Tune in to Episode 26 with Shea Roggio of Soko Bag. This podcast was recorded while sitting in the future home of Soko Bag that is currently covered in dust and tools. We chat about the process behind starting a restaurant. We dive into the importance of market research, dialed-in recipes, and dealing with local government and municipalities. We also chat about the shifting timeline that is invariably involved when dealing with construction projects. Soko Bag is bringing Korean Fried Chicken to Phoenixville as well as the South Korean culture that includes all things beer, chicken, and sports. Calling all foodies who want the experience they’ve been missing. Grab a beer, and tune in to Leverage & Beverage with Soko Bag!

Tune in to Episode 25 with Biba Vernon of Beauty By Biba. Biba has been in the skin therapy and beauty scene for 20+ years. She has worked in salons in New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia before embarking on the adventure of starting her own. Hear all about how she made the transition from working for other salons to making her own a reality. Hear all about the lessons she learned in those venues and how they translate to the improved service she now provides. We talk all things business, bloody marys, skin therapy, growth and expansion, and the customer experience. We also talk about the many hats businesses owners wear and how to manage these different roles. Grab a bloody and tune in to Episode 25 to hear all about the world of skin therapy done different.

Tune in to Episode 24 with Gail Warner of Bridge Street Chocolates. Gail is a lifelong lover of chocolate. In fact, she knew she would open a chocolate shop over 30 years ago. In this conversation I had the chance to unwrap some of her wonderful story from its beginnings to the stronghold that it is in the community today. We talk all things business, port-wine, chocolate, truffles, pairings, etc. We talk about the process of making chocolate as well as the process of running a business. We chat about the many hats businesses owners wear and the crucial pivot points in business that may be more obvious than it first seems. Tune in to Episode 24 to hear all about the world of chocolate, our “necessary luxury.”

Tune in to Episode 23 with Rob Lawless of Rob’s 10k Friends. Rob has a lot of friends and that number is growing. This is conversation 5698 in Rob’s journey. Originally from Norristown, PA, Rob has always been an outgoing guy, and this project puts him even more at home. We chat about what the project is, the lessons he has learned, some of the most striking conversations, and what he is planning after he reaches his goal. Rob says that the thing he has learned most succinctly is that everyone is just trying to do the best they can with the resources they have. Tune in to hear all about relationships, conversations, business building, and the importance when starting a project to make sure it is “purple.”

Tune in to Episode 22 with Drew Farnese of Revamp 365, a company that purchases real estate properties that have potential to be fixed up and flipped or rented out. Their specialty is in helping sellers that may not be able to sell in traditional ways. We start with a history of Drew’s entrance into the real estate world. We meander through a bunch of real estate topics, touch on marketing, growth, AI, and much more. We also get into a cool conversation about the age old advice of “following your passion” and our thoughts on this. Grab your favorite beverage and listen along!

Tune in to Episode 21 with Derek “Ducky” Ryan, real estate agent with Keller Williams. We touch on a bunch of topics including building a pipeline of business as a self-employed individual. We discuss the how behind fostering a “bring home what you kill” mentality. We also touch on the idea that sales is overrated and that most people would generally do better by developing the heart of a servant instead. We chat about building out business processes and developing a client service model. He explains the importance of knowing what you know, what you don't know, and knowing the difference.

Tune in to Episode 20 with Lori Colasanti of The Job Exchange Associates, a full-service staffing agency which has been matching businesses with talent for over 25 years. Their specialty is recruiting talent in the fields of accounting, administrative support, customer support, and human resources. We chat about the origin story of how she got into the staffing space and well as how she has adjusted to the market over the years. We touch on the current job economy as well as her outlook on the future. We touch on business scaling, growth, and pivot points. We also talk about technology and its impact on the job market going forward.

Tune in to Episode 19 with Deepa Lal and Laurin Dorman of Stokelan Estate Winery. We chat about the hard work involved in building a business with the understanding that this “struggle” is a good thing. We dive into some of the wines themselves with Laurin Dorman, who is Stokelan’s general manager and coordinator of chaos. Laurin has a background in the beverage industry and is also a sommelier. We touch on all things wine, marketing, business as well as strategy on how to make a statement and give your business that “wow” factor. In other words, how to make the intangibles, tangible. A recurring theme was simplicity. Tune in to see why this is such an important concept in business.

Tune in to Episode 18 with Vincent Jacobbi of Togronis, a ready-to-drink craft cocktail company that focuses on the Negroni. We talk about Vincent’s background growing up in the restaurant business, his experience in various sales roles over the years, and how his experiences have led to where he is now. We touch on the future of the beverage world, industry trends, and the cute can that is impossible to turn down. "Togronis was conceptualized amidst the global pandemic, when bars and restaurants had to get creative and with looser regulations, started selling drinks to go. Which brought up an idea: why can't I have my favorite craft cocktail in a can? Togronis (Craft Negroni To Go), by Common Pour, is the first line of ready to drink craft cocktails in a can."

Tune in to Episode 17 with Chuck Garrity of Death of the Fox Brewing Company. Death of the Fox is a local brewery, coffee house, and coffee roastery, the first and only one of its kind in the state of NJ. We talk about Chuck’s background in the heathcare industry, the similarities between coffee and beer culture, and the idea of a “third place.” We touch on his life as a home brewer and eventual transition into the beverage industry full-time. Furthermore, we talk about the regulation roadblocks that the NJ ABC has imposed upon NJ breweries and what they are doing to fight against these egregious and unfair regulations. https://p2a.co/rxLGUAd

Tune in to Episode 16 with Jason Shoff of Mill Creek Apiary, a local bee keeping operation and manufacturer of exquisite bee products. We discuss some of the following: What is an apiary? Why is honey a superfood? Why are honey-related products a good business model? We also talk about the feelings associated with the multi-faceted life of a business owner. We touch on how sometimes simplification and paring back is needed before true business growth can happen. We sip on some delicious mead and talk about all of these things and more!

Tune in to Episode 15 with Bill Butrymowicz of Seaview Beverage, a beverage distribution company in South Jersey. We talk about his entry into the business started by his dad's entrepreneurial spirit. What started as taking a chance on an up and coming brand, has turned into a great business decision. We talk about the beverage industry as a whole and changes over the years, including the rise in popularity of health-related drinks as opposed to those that are sugar-filled. We discuss how to treat customers and how to make them come back for more. We also touch on the topic of a close-knit businesses and how to "raise employees." The beverage industry is alive and well, I'll drink to that. 

Tune in to Episode 14 with Ben Roberts III of Ben's Shine, a shoeshine business. We talk about his upbringing and early entry into the world of business development. We talk about family dynamics and how sometimes things that seem unfair or not beneficial, actually turn out to be in our benefit. We sip on some Grand Marnier and touch on client acquisition in ways that might seem traditionally "un-business-like." We also talk about building a community around a product or service and how relationships and experience will keep clients coming back around.

Tune in to Episode 13 with Marc Brookland of SEOLocale. We dive into his college career and dissatisfaction with his path at the time. We talk about the topic of luck in business as well as taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves. We explore the world of digital marketing ranging to everything from web design to search engine optimization (SEO) as well as paid ad campaigns and email marketing. We also talk about forming a cohesive strategy and what works best for certain industry segments. We chat about all of this while sipping on some Dogfishhead 60-Minute IPA, one of the staples in the American IPA repertoire.

Tune in to Episode 12 with Anthony Parenti of Omnia Basketball Academy. We dive into his early upbringing, career in teaching, and his new venture, Omnia Basketball Academy. We examine the mindset of uncertainty and procrastination of business owners, emphasize the importance of learning from mistakes to create a smoother path going forward, and converse about the importance of courage and encouragement from others in the process of building a movement. We also talk about his vision beyond basketball for Omnia. Always Forward.