Gift Biz Unwrapped | Women Entrepreneurs | Bakers, Crafters, Makers | Startup

Rebecca Bloomfield of Jerry S Pearlstein Insurance has been privileged to work with the lives of famous women in American history like Abigail Adams and Lady Bird Johnson. She’s also been asked by small communities to honor the lives of women who were important to their beginnings. We have the fortune today of meeting one of these women as Rebecca portrays Elizabeth Meyer. Let me introduce you to Elizabeth. She was born in the southeastern corner of Switzerland in 1818. Elizabeth had a strong desire to open her life to a new world and new ways. So she joined a Swiss Protestant group headed for Wisconsin in this land called America. She had never before traveled more than a few miles from her parents’ farm. She wasn’t quite sure where she was going. But she took it step by step. Let’s talk with Elizabeth now and hear about her remarkable journey and the life she created for herself in America. The Journey from Switzerland to AmericaThe practical reason why Elizabeth left Switzerland. [3:35] The announcement an

Rebekah Wilbur is a custom wedding cake designer and owner of Rebekah Naomi Cake Design. She is also the Managing Editor of American Cake Decorating Magazine. Rebekah dedicates her free time to teaching live cake decorating classes, blogging about cake matters, demonstrating at cake shows, and creating online tutorials. Recognized as a Satin Ice Artist of Excellence, she enjoys sharing her passion for cake decorating with others. Her style is instantly recognizable for it’s stylistic sugar florals and refined elegance. Rebekah likes to draw inspiration from art, fashion, fabrics and textiles in the creation of her designs. Rebekah has been featured in many notable bridal magazines. You can find her work as a contributing writer for Bridal Guide and several features in Harper’s Bazaar Bride. She says her greatest professional achievement as a cake decorator is creating a 14-tier cake for the wedding of Kristen Jarvis West. Kristen was the Chief of Staff to Michelle Obama. Both the past First Lad

Matt and his wife, Jennifer started their retail journey 12 years ago in downtown Holland, Michigan with a gift and decor store called HOME & COMPANY. It took a couple of years to get to that “ah-ha” moment when they realized they were focused on all the wrong things. Matt had just opened a second concept store named Tip Toes, when the recession hit. They knew they needed to do something to adapt. Thankfully, by putting in place some common sense practices, recognizing the importance of their people, and trusting their customers, they not only survived the recession but are thriving today! The Home & Company StoryHow the first store was formed. [4:55] The initial concept of Home & Company [6:19] The opening of Tip Toes [8:01] A creative lease agreement [10:10] Business Building InsightsTop 3 things to consider for a brick & mortar store [8:27] Your product mix must align with customers’ desires [12:15] #1 business attribute a business owner needs [14:41] Add-on selling the right way [25:24] Cu

Hallie is a licensed speech-language pathologist working full time in the public schools. In her “spare” time, she blogs and creates digital resources to assist busy speech-language pathologists to make their jobs a bit easier. She started this entrepreneurial journey 5 years ago. At that time, she didn’t have a permanent job and used her blog as a therapeutic outlet. Back then she kept her blog anonymous to prevent having issues while finding a tenure track position. In truth, Hallie didn’t think anyone would read it! But as time went on, she built a following and loyal customer base just by providing content her audience loved. After over 3 years of blogging, she finally revealed her identity and her audience no longer has to admire her incognito! Hallie’s StoryThe purpose behind Speech Time Fun. [4:08] How Hallie’s journey began. [4:53] Why Hallie wanted to remain anonymous. [7:32] She still had fear even after her first sale. [9:03] Getting caught up in the story and feeling like she was lying. [11:16] Th

Todd Timmerman is a business lawyer specializing in intellectual property protection. His practice spans a wide range of intellectual property and technology-related litigation and transactional matters. Todd assists clients in crafting sound intellectual property protection and enforcement strategies. This secures and maximizes the value of their critical intellectual property assets. He also handles trademark and copyright registration matters as well as licensing, transfer, and other business transactions. Todd co-chairs the firm’s Intellectual Property Law Practice Group. He is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and certified as an Intellectual Property Law Specialist by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education. Certification is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the area of Intellectual Property Law. Todd has been recognized by Best Lawyers, Florida Super Lawyers, Florida Legal Elite, and was named by Best Lawye

Katie Wiswald is a commercial and consumer lender at Highland Park Bank & Trust, a Wintrust Community Bank. Katie has spent the last 15 years in Highland Park focusing on community lending and serving the needs of local businesses and residents. She has previously served on the board of the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce as Assistant Vice President and is currently the chairman of the task force for the Ravinia Business District (TIF) Advisory as well as an advisory member for the Ravinia District SSA. As a lender she is focused on learning about her customer’s businesses, identifying their needs, and working with them to provide the best financing options to meet their goals. From equipment purchases, to working capital lines, to real estate loans, she enjoys helping her customers achieve their financial goals so that they can focus on their business and the clients that they serve. The 5 C’s of CreditOverview of the 5 C’s of Credit [5:47] Cash Flow [15:16] Collateral [18:35] Credit & Charact

Goran Donev has been dealing with computers since he was sixteen. Back then he was building his own computers and helping friends fix theirs. He went on to work in corporate IT departments and saw that something was lacking. There was an absence of quality IT providers who truly understood the needs of small businesses. So he started Safe Haven IT where today, he helps the small business owner with remote management and monitoring, consulting services and installation. Goran says his goal is to become the “trusted advisor” to as many small business owners as possible. The Safe Haven IT StoryEven as a child Goran loved taking things apart and figuring things out. [4:03]  Business Building InsightsThe 5 things you need when you’re setting up your office. [5:43] What is it and why do you need a firewall. [7:07] All about the modem and the router. [8:15] Where to get help with your setup. [10:02] How to protect yourself from hackers. [11:10] How to get the most out of your antivirus software.

Nicole is an income strategist who works with everyday entrepreneurs by applying corporate strategies to help build their businesses. She has worked as a client-facing business executive for Fortune 500 companies in both sales and marketing for over ten years. Everyone from stay-at-home parents to small-business owners can access her affordable and entertaining webinars and private monetization coaching. Using her trademarked Pitch & Pray method, Nicole helps her clients embrace the Monetize Thyself mindset and realize their brand’s fiscal goals. “I specialize in income makeovers – meaning I help aspiring entrepreneurs gain the clarity and confidence they need to move forward with turning their passion into profits. If you want your side project or hobby to transform into a full-time earning opportunity, I can help you earn the income you deserve.” Nicole’s StoryNicole calls her start in life the true American story [6:01] What she learned from livestreaming on Periscope [8:06] Hear how Nicole q

Getting insurance today is overwhelming. For this reason over 15 years ago, Rebecca Bloomfield and her husband and partner Jerry Pearlstein, decided to use their experience and empathy to open an insurance agency serving the entrepreneur. They provide health, life, long-term care and disability insurance to people who don’t have a company providing these benefits. Rebecca is particularly concerned about women who so often don’t think of themselves. A little knowledge and preplanning can prevent a catastrophe that many of us don’t even see coming. Equally important, Rebecca explains why life insurance can be a huge benefit right now. It’s not just for once you’ve passed as is the common perception. Rebecca’s StoryHow Rebecca’s career pivoted to focus on individual life insurance. [2:50] Why life insurance is more important today than ever before. [4:35] Advice on who should be considering life insurance. [5:46] Candle Flickering MomentsHow life insurance helped safe a family and business for one of R

Tuscany Tours is a small business owned and operated by Pam Mercer and her husband, Sam Hilt. They work and live in a small hilltop town near Siena, Italy. It all started with a trip from California to Tuscany just over 25 years ago. Little did they know that this experience would change their thinking and change their lives. Their first official Tuscany tour was in 1997 and they’ve been growing ever since. Pam calls it a privilege to receive travelers and share the beautiful countries of Italy and France. In groups of no more than 16, she connects her travelers to local places and people, tastes and traditions. Pam calls it magical and I can see why! Pam and Sam’s StoryThe trip that started it all [5:27] There wasn’t going to be an excuse to put it off [8:02] Making the big move to Tuscany [9:23] A peek into the culture … you’ll feel like you’re there listening to the bells calling for mass! [10:50] The mission of Tuscany Tours [12:26] Candle Flickering MomentsWorking through problems with tra

Rae uses creative expression to nurture self-worth, resilience, healing and social change. She found her passion after overcoming some serious life events and now makes it her mission to assist others.  She helps both individuals and organizations create powerful visions that transform their lives. This is achieved by building a problem solving culture and fostering growth and change through her Creative Visioning Training. Rae is the author of Art from My Heart and the award winning book Creative Activist: Make the World Better, One Person, One Action at a Time. Rae’s StoryHow the idea of art for healing all began [5:20] Trouble with grandfather [5:49] Feedback from a college professor reinforced Rae’s negative beliefs [6:24] Trying different options and learning about somatic response [7:41] Art and service saved her life [8:44] The Winning Adventure [16:12] Rae’s Life InsightsFacts of sexual abuse in our society [8:59] Finding the courage to tell her story [12:04] Focus o

Carmi has years of experience designing gift and home decor for retailer, big box, and global distributors worldwide. He learned naturally that having product stories attached to his gift designs results in big business. He is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Smashup Studio, a cutting edge design studio. They specialize in marketing original re-purposed Gifts and Home Accessories and are involved in all aspects of design, startup, manufacturing and marketing. Carmi newest venture is taking recycled motherboards and turning them into home decor and art sculptures. He calls them Computer Bugs to love! The Gift IndustryWhat brought Carmi into the gift industry [4:09] Discovering the art of buying and selling [4:49] The story of The Prosperity Tree [5:33] Pivoting to the design side of the gift industry [8:40] Collaboration with Make A Wish Foundation [10:36] The value of product stories – Good Luck Golf Ball [11:10] The value of product stories – Silver Pine Cone St

Robin Walker, a former elementary school teacher, has been building businesses from home for the last 14 years. She owns and runs Zainey and Zoe which offers made to order cheer bows through their website and on Etsy. Robin also connects and supports women business owners through her Women’s Business Workshop. She is the author of the Summer Survival Guide for Work at Home Moms and this past March, hosted a 2 day conference for women business owners looking to grow their businesses. Robin’s StoryBeing a teacher and why she made a pivot [3:15] Zannie & Zoe and her other businesses [4:25] Robin’s focus on supporting women business owners [5:40] Women’s Business WorkshopHow she identified the need “Summer Mom” issue [16:17] When to start the summer plan [17:42] The trick with a special activity a week [18:55] The importance of buy in [19:35] Candle Flickering MomentsWith a limited amount to invest at startup, where do you begin? [7:16] Business Building InsightsThe first big idea. Where do you begi

Andi Malone is the owner of Infinity Gifts, Baskets, and Balloons. She started her business 11 years ago and is a professionally certified designer and the winner of numerous awards within her industry. Infinity Gifts’ services include custom gift baskets for all occasions as well as balloon design to make events unique and exciting. When her son and daughter were young, Andi held auctions at their baseball events to raise extra money. Her gift baskets were a huge success and over time, she recognized that this could turn into something more. That’s when the idea of starting her own business began. Today she works out of a traditional brick and mortar store in Ventura, CA. The Infinity Gifts, Baskets and Balloons StoryHow it all began. [4:29] A discussion on how and where she set up shop. [7:18] The role the Chamber of Commerce plays in her business. [8:54] Brick and mortar of today. [13:12] Andi recognizes that she has control issues. Here’s how she’s dealing with it. [15:0

Morgan Sutton is the Director of Operations at Susan B. Zimmerman Enterprise. With a Master’s in Engineering Management, she directs all business operations, logistics, and online automation systems for social media educator, Sue B. Zimmerman. Since the company’s start almost 5 years ago, she has been a core driver of the development of Sue B.’s popular brand and online education courses. As a certified Ontraport consultant, Morgan is responsible for the back-end operations of SBZ Enterprise. She is passionate about making the lives of small business owners easier through efficient & effective systems. As the company’s go-to problem-solver, her love of automation and a well-organized spreadsheet allows SBZ to run like a well-oiled machine. Morgan shared her excitement for social media analytics and marketing systemization on the CreativeLive Stage in November 2014 in the course “Sell More with Instagram” and in 2015 with “Get Social: Connecting Your Business Channel’s”. What does “Morganize” Mean?Mor

Jonathan is the author of Brand vs. Wild: Building Resilient Brands for Harsh Business Environments. He is an engaging and authoritative speaker on shaping a brand that can survive and thrive, in today’s tough uncertain world. As partner and strategy director at McKee Wallwork + Company, Jonathan led his firm to be recognized by industry purveyor Advertising Age as a national leader in branding and marketing. They were also named the Southwest Small Agency of the Year, and received the national B2B Campaign of the Year, and national Best Places to Work awards. All About the Brand vs. Wild ConceptWhat does “wild” mean in the world today? [3:51] New vs. old success principles [5:36] Predictable human reactions to disruption. [6:16] Kodak – A disruption example [8:20] Blockbuster’s path to irrelevance [12:14] Business Building InsightsFear and how it affects us [9:03] Watch your numbers to see if you’re losing relevancy [9:46] Stop – Think – Observe – Plan [11:28] Ways you can stay relevant [13:08

Sue. B Zimmerman is an insightful social media educator, energetic speaker, and in-demand business coach. Her blog is ranked as one of the top 10 social media blogs in 2017 by Social Media Examiner and Huffington Post recently named Sue as one of the Top 50 Must-Follow Women Entrepreneurs in 2017. Whether she’s taking the stage at an industry conference like Social Media Marketing World, or working one-on-one with her clients, Sue B. is driven to help business owners leverage the power of Instagram to meet (and exceed) their business goals. So it’s no surprise that she’s also one of the most popular instructors at CreativeLive. As a life-long entrepreneur, Sue B. has over 30 years of business experience. Tapping into her extensive knowledge of social media, it’s Sue B.’s mission to teach, mentor, and empower others. Instagram Stories BasicsAn introduction to Instagram Stories [3:52] The difference between personal and business accounts and an explanation of the suggested posting intent for each

Shenia Smith started her business, Lula’s Bath and Bombs, just one year ago. As you may have guessed, she sells homemade bath bombs and also handmade soap, sugar scrubs, bath salts and lotion bars. Selling online only through Facebook and in person at craft shows, her business is exploding – just like her bath bombs do! A typical weekend event will result in the sale of two to three thousand bath bombs. And to think, this all started from selling donuts. I know this doesn’t make sense. But it will when you listen to her story. The Lula’s Bath and Bombs StoryIn the beginning there were donuts. [7:54] Pivoting into selling at fairs versus a mall kiosk. [11:12] The two shows that changed everything for Lula’s Bath and Bombs. [14:41] When you sell more, you need to make more. Enter the Bomb Squad. [21:42] Candle Flickering MomentsDoing this podcast was out of Shenia’s comfort zone. But she did it beautifully! [4:10] Business Building InsightsSales come back to you when you promote others. Even your comp

Lisa started Earth Sticks five years ago. By her own admission, it was a fluke. She wanted to help out a friend, and before she knew it, she was launching a website and her first product. Earth Sticks are hand-blended essential oils made into a solid stick, each with a different purpose. These essential oils are nature’s way of promoting emotional, physical and spiritual healing by targeting specific body parts and systems without the use of chemical additives and toxins. Today, Lisa’s line has expanded to more than 20 products that are all hand-made from 100% natural ingredients. The Earth Sticks and Scents StoryHow it all started. [4:16] The moment Lisa identified how to make it all come together – the Sticks! [6:27] Product validation came from her friends results when using her Earth Sticks. [8:17] Product development and how Lisa was directed with expansion of the line. [9:56] Business Building InsightsThe first steps in turning your hobby into a business. [12:32] One specific outdoor mark

Max is one of the creators behind the wildly popular game Cards Against Humanity. He is also a co-founder of Blackbox which is a shipping company that helps independent artists send physical goods to their customers. Max is also the guy behind several attention-grabbing media stunts. Have you heard of “Digging the Hole to Nowhere?” Or the 30 second SuperBowl commercial featuring a potato that simply says “Advertisement?” We’ll get the scoop behind these events and their results. Max has been featured in Fast Company, Business Insider and last year was named to Forbes 30 under 30. In this show we focus on the development of Cards Against Humanity and the creativity behind what he puts out to the world. The Cards Against Humanity StoryIn the beginning … [3:22] The real reason it was started. [4:08] Where Cards Against Humanity is today. [11:31] Their take on Black Friday and the https://www.cnet.com/news/cards-against-humanity-is-digging-a-hole-to-nowhere/