Whoop! Whoop! In this episode, I’m joined by my wife, Nicole, who is owner of Love At First Cookie. (It’s always a treat when we do these type of recordings together.)

Today, we discuss not just selling a product or service but the benefits of what you sell. It’s much easier to do this looking from the outside than inside, so we put that to the test in a little rapid fire scenario.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please "Like," "Download," give "5-Stars," and/or leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback helps us and the LKLD community grow!

For more information visit lkldedge.com

Owner Sarah Swartz of Swim Dynamic drops by the LKLD | EDGE to speak all things water!

Living in Florida means that swim season and water safety is 24/7! According to the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4. For this rate, Florida has been ranked the highest in the U.S. Florida also ranks second for number of pools per person. Besides just pools, we are surrounded with lakes, the ocean, and even one area you might not think of: retention ponds! Don't forget the tub!

We talk about her being a stay at home mom to unexpected business owner, how tough it is for parents to put their kids in lessons, and even teaching adults and instilling confidence in them.

Swim Dynamic offers indoor heated lessons, private or semi-private, for ages 4 months and up! They also offer an array of classes including homeschool classes. With instructors trained in advanced adaptive aquatics, they have the required tools to effectively teach swimmers with anxiety, autism, trauma, discomfort, physical difficulties, sensory issues, motor problems and delays.

Check out this episode to hear the full story now!

You can find Swim Dynamic at: https://swimdynamiclakeland.com/home

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please "Like," "Download," give "5-Stars," and/or leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback helps us and the LKLD community grow!

For more information visit lkldedge.com

Mindy of The Pop & Prop Shop drops by the LKLD | EDGE to speak all things balloons and all things “party”! After we finish our “Bryan Adams Song Showdown,” we dive into balloon artistry, event decor and backdrop fun!

I had a “popping” time interviewing Mindy and discussing the early stages of a small business. We talk about how starting your dream doesn’t require all the pieces from the get-go, doing the thang without a website, and the struggle of putting yourself out there with little to show. Also, I really wanted to have a conversation about her personality through her branding and writing. It’s what drew me to her business in the first place!

Whether it’s a bridal shower, birthday, open house, sip and shop event, holiday, or you-name-it!, Mindy has numerous options via balloons, rentals, and add-ons, including DIY options, drop off, and setup and clean up too! Mindy spreads joy, creativity and celebration through eye-catching setups to reflect your own personality and vision!

Check out this episode to hear the full scoop now!

You can find The Pop & Prop Shop at: https://www.instagram.com/popandpropshop/ & https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576597920121

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please "Like," "Download," give "5-Stars," and/or leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback helps us and the LKLD community grow!

For more information visit lkldedge.com

If you’re like me, then you don’t want to deal with banks and traditional financial institutions… or those in “suits”! You’re not guaranteed money from these type of lenders and investors anyways. So, what are some methods to attain capital and/or working capital to help your business take that next step or merely survive?

From experience, there are several modern-day options available even without credit checks, collateral or further complexities. Whether you’re an established business or just starting out, I share over seven ways to do so!

Maybe you need to buy a new piece of equipment? Maybe your business computer crashed? (I forgot we had that happen at the height of busy season!) Maybe you need help starting up? Maybe this lull is draining your payroll?

On the flipside, are you giving your customers more options to pay? Make it easier for them to pay you what you require and are asking!

Check out this episode to hear the full scoop now!

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please "Like," "Download," give "5-Stars," and/or leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback helps us and the LKLD community grow!

For more information visit lkldedge.com

Zoelynne Forehand of Kingston’s Lemonade Kingdom and the upcoming Eagle Lake Farmers Market drops by the LKLD | EDGE to chat about all things business and life. What if you saw a problem and decided you’re the one who would provide the solution? Zoelynne has done this twice in the past four months!

From merely attending a market in February that provided no drinks to starting her very own lemonade business in March. From living in a city, Eagle Lake, (which is about 20-30 minutes from Lakeland), where there are no markets for businesses to vend, to approaching the city and forming her own.

We discuss working full hour workdays to full weekends to make a dream (or two!) happen, not getting into markets but creating them, standing out from other businesses in your line of work, being introverted in a business that needs you to be extroverted, writing your life goals down, getting advice from fellow vendors and friends, and more! You can hear her passion through to the end! Check out this episode to hear the full scoop now!

You can find her at: https://linktr.ee/kingstonslemonadekingdom, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577752011006 & https://www.instagram.com/eaglelakefarmersmarket/

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please "Like," "Download," give "5-Stars," and/or leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback helps us and the LKLD community grow!

For more information visit lkldedge.com

Do you know what a “gimmick” is? How about in rock n’ roll? Alice Cooper’s make-up, theatrics and shock rock. KISS’ make-up, explosives and merchandise. Jethro Tull’s flute addition to rock n’ blues. How about in wrestling? Jake the Snake used a real snake in wrestling matches! But what about in your business?

I’m speaking about something that differentiates and sets you apart from those around you whether it be within the same industry or market and in your products and services.

What’s going to make someone buy from you and not the other person selling the same thing? Why choose you? What’s your story? What sets YOU apart? Be memorable! Be different! Be you!

And if you aren’t a small business owner or entrepreneur, why do you think you buy from certain stores and folks?

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please "Like," "Download," give "5-Stars," and/or leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback helps us and the LKLD community grow!

For more information visit lkldedge.com

Jacob and Ellie of Hive Happy Honey drop by the LKLD | EDGE to speak all things honey and bees! From a road trip whim to a growing honey business, we don’t only discuss their products such as beeswax and tallow lotion, raw and unfiltered honey, lip gloss and chapstick, and sugar scrubs, but we also dive into what one might not see from the outside.

From how to get your products into stores, going from one wholesaler to almost 15 in the past six months, creating an entire line of wholesale and home goods such as: wax melts, cutting board wax, leather polish, surfboard and woodworking waxes, as well as paw wax to keep your fluffy ones’ feet protected in this FL heat, to defining success and continuing through the failures, and what their plans are to take their business from one county to the national level within two years. Check out this episode to hear the full scoop now!

You can find Hive Happy Honey at: https://www.hivehappyhoney.com/

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please "Like," "Download," give "5-Stars," and/or leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback helps us and the LKLD community grow!

For more information visit lkldedge.com

Fridays are the days your host, that’s me, goes a tad deeper! Despite being your brand and starting a business, your identity is not your business! Yes, I can’t believe I’m saying that, but I’ll explain…

After about 16 businesses, I can personally tell you that businesses fail, shift, pivot, succeed, and seasons always change. If that’s the truth, then that means I must be many people in this one body!

Out of it all, one business was truly tough for me to close. Especially after all the work I put in, including months of 18 hour days, I had to come to terms that we were officially closing.

Keeping it in perspective, you’re more than a job. You’re more than a business. Don’t lose yourself if business changes, and remember who you are really doing this for.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please "Like," "Download," and/or leave a review and let us know what you thought! Your feedback helps us and the LKLD community grow!

For more information visit lkldedge.com