Small Business Success Highlights

Small Business Success Highlights – Part 2.

Featured business owners share their Small Business Success Highlights, and host Henry Lopez shares popular resources from The How of Business.

On this special episode Henry Lopez (Serial Entrepreneur, Business Coach, and Host of The How of Business podcast) shares some information about The How of Business podcast and popular resources to help you start, run and grow your small business – including top book recommendations and most popular episodes from the past year. He also features a few of his small business coaching clients as they share their small business success highlights – they share some of the challenges they have overcome this past year and insights into how they have grown their small businesses.

You can also listen and watch on The How of Business YouTube Channel.

Small Business Success Highlights:

Small Business Success Highlight: Thomas Erickson, owner of Clark Distributing Company and Vegefood.com

Clark Distributing carries a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan products in retail and foodservice sizes. They also sell direct to consumers anywhere in the US through their online site (Vegefood.com) for vegan and vegetarian foods, including frozen and canned items. They are based in Hendersonville, TN.

Question: What was one big business challenge that you overcame in 2023?
“For me managing cash flow has been challenging and it still is, but now I have a better and clearer picture of what is going on and where I need to adjust. I have had to get creative, to better spread out the cash flow in how we buy and work with our customers and vendors.”

Question: How have you continued to grow as the leader of your family-owned business this past year?
“This year has been unique because I have had difficult conversations with family members in regards to changes that have to be made for the sake of the business. These conversations and decision, while not fun, have pushed me to learn more about myself and to learn from these experiences. I am also learning and growing to be more confident in my own decisions. Everyone has their opinion, but you have to make the decision you are confident in even though you may be wrong.”

Question: What’s one tip you would share with other business owners who are also balancing a busy family life and a demanding growing small business?
“If possible, share the highs and lows of the business with your spouse and family. It can help in many ways and even spark an idea or a different way to handle a situation. Also, get a coach and/or a mentor.”

Small Business Success Highlight: McKay Coombs co-owner of Coombs Landscaping & Hardscapes

Coombs Landscaping and Hardscapes is a family owned and operated business. McKay and Wade Coombs are brothers who have a passion for landscaping and creating the yards families will enjoy for years to come. They install residential Landscapes and Hardscapes (outdoor living spaces) in Utah County, Utah, they serve Spanish Fork, UT · Utah County, UT · Provo, UT · Elk Ridge, UT · Orem, UT · Woodland Hills, UT · Mapleton, UT · Springville, UT.

Question: What was one big business challenge that you overcame in 2023?
“For me a challenge was learning how to deal with subcontractors, I have subbed out small jobs in the past but this year each project I subbed out 10’s of thousands of dollars’ worth of work. I could’ve learned how to schedule my work around them better and even paid myself more being the general contractor between them and the homeowner.”

Question: What’s one tip you would share on how to work well with a business partner who is also a family member?
“Learn to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses to complement how you work with each other. Also don’t be afraid to speak your mind if something is bothering you and being willing to listen to what each other has to say. Honestly sometimes you need to have that yelling match to get things out but don’t just dwell on the awkwardness from it and eventually come back to forgive each and move on.”

Question: Why do you customers choose Coombs??
“Great customer service. We strive to make sure our clients are happy throughout the process from the first bid meeting to the final walkthrough of the project. We are in constant communication when needed and answer calls or texts from clients and potential future clients. We have been told by many homeowners that we are a rare landscaping company that actually answers the phone and is willing to come back when we need to fix something.”

Small Business Success Highlight: Natasha Londono, owner of Rumbita

Unique celebration items, including her signature hand-made crowns (see image below), and celebration events.

“At Rumbita we value self-love, relationships and special moments. We provide our community inspiration and empowerment to celebrate themselves, their people and the moments that matter to them through unique products and experiences.”

Question: What was one big business challenge that you overcame in 2023?
“My brand is twofold and I didn’t accept this until recently. I have a mission for my community and a star product that doesn’t always coincide with my mission. Understanding, and accepting this gave me clarity into what channels, efforts, and investments I needed to make in order to continue my mission and still run a business. My mission is to encourage people to celebrate life beyond their birthday by acknowledging the off-the-calendar moments, more than that, to celebrate in the forms, manners, and with the people that make sense to them regardless of society’s influence or pressure. My star product is a handmade artisan crown that elevates any celebration, they are multi-use and can be worn for multiple occasions. However, there is a big gap between the customer I’m trying to influence and the customer ready to purchase my crown. This was a challenge I struggled with considering I was trying to speak to both through the same channels. In 2023, I switched gears and started having more in-person celebration events, where I could reach both customers. I also focused my product sales efforts on channels such as Etsy, where they performed without the need for storytelling or content influence.”

Question: What’s one tip you would share about how to balance a successful career while also building a growing business on the side?
“Balance is key and remember your priorities — two tips. I know that without my career, I could not support my side business. One needs to succeed for the other to grow. My priority right now is my career and on the days I am exhausted or depleted but still need to go the extra mile, I choose my career and then rest. Without them, I cannot continue to grow my business. My side business is MY side business. We are sometimes harder on ourselves than any boss would be. But when we remember that the water needed to pour into your side business garden is your career, then you are able to manage them both more successfully.”

Question: Who is your ideal customer, and what’s one way that you reach them successfully?
“The ideal customer for my crown’s are a bride-to-be’s. They are always looking for unique, one-of-a-kind items for one of their biggest moments in life. Etsy has really helped me reach this customer in the most successful and direct way. “

Episode Host: Henry Lopez is a serial entrepreneur, small business coach, and the host of this episode of The How of Business podcast show – dedicated to helping you start, run and grow your small business.