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Wende Curtis

If you’ve lived in Denver for any amount of time, you know  Comedy Works.  It has been a staple in downtown Denver for over 25 years. 

While Wende did not start the Comedy Works, she did save it from dieing.  Wende started working in college as a cocktail waitress.  Eventually bought into the company that had a few partners, and when things started to go bad financially, bought everyone out. 

Most people are very familiar with the downtown Denver location, about 4 years ago, Wende decided to expand, and in the worst banking environment our generation has seen, Wende borrowed money to build a Greenwood Village location that houses the Comedy Works club, a martini bar, and an event center.  Quite the accomplishment. 

Wende is not only a fantastic club owner, she manages the carriers of several comics, and consults other would-be club owners.  Wende is truly one of Denver’s best and most successful entrepreneurs.  Find out more about Comedy Works at www.comedyworks.com

In our expert segment, we also spoke with Steve Collins today from PIP printing to talk to us about marketing our small business.  We talked a little more about some traditional marketing avenues.  Today, most people want to talk about social media and the Internet, but print and traditional marketing can still be really effective.  You can learn more about how PIP Printing can help you at their website or by calling Steve at (303) 217-5577.

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Today we talked to Meghan Ely from OFD Consulting who helps small business owners that provide wedding products and services grow their business.  In a less than perfect economy (we won’t use the “R” word), it is important to continue to market your business.  Meghan shares with us some really important tips about the fact that you can even start a business AND THRIVE in a down economy.   You always need to differentiate your business and educate your customer so they know WHY you are worth what you charge.

You always need to partner with other industry leaders, and know who can bring you more business.  Meghan shared with us how one of her clients went out and built these important relationships to help her launch her new cake business. 

You can get in contact with Meghan at OFDConsulting.com and on her blog. 

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Sorry, there is a little delay on the podcast, give it a few seconds.  Great show with a couple of small business owners from Denver that are growing their businesses without using debt.  Les Cowen of Happy Roots:  a lawn care company our of Thornton, CO and Brian Isakson who owns Singletrack Factory: a bike store featuring mountain bikes in Wash Park.

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Jim Adams

Today I interview the founder of Red Bud’s Raw, a producer of natural dog food.  After a successful stint in marketing and PR with Chipotle Mexican Grill, Jim decided it was time to grow his own business, surrounding his passion for his dogs. 

Jim had learned a lot about what it meant to raise natural beef for the meat used at Chipotle, and found that there were a lot of the same benefits if applied to dog food.  The reality is that the dog food industry came out of a surplus of grain in our farming communities.  But, the problem is, dogs are not made to eat grain, but to eat meat. 

Creating a product that requires some level of education to the consumer can be challenging, but in the pet industry, many consumers are passionate about their pet.  Jim aims to help as many of them as possible. 

Jim has faced a lot of challenges, but remains optimistic that persistence will pay off, and that retails and pet owners will start to see the huge benefits of feeding their pets a natural diet of meat, fruits, and vegetables.  For more information on Red Bud’s Raw, visit their website at www.redbudsraw.com

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Amy Foxwell from Foxwell Associates helps us understand what the importance of knowing your customers can do to add to our bottom line.  Everything we do should be purposeful, and Amy will shed some light on why knowledge is king. 

For over 15 years Amy has worked throughout the world with both Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Disney, AOL, and a host of other companies.  She is author of several marketing guides and industry specific marketing and business systems such as the Win Win Small Business Marketing System and the Win Win Restaurant Marketing System.

Foxwell Associates has offices in both the US and France. Amy Foxwell lives in the south of France with her partner Jean Sébastien, her two children, her two cats and her flat-coated retriever.

If you would like to e-mail her direct, you can contact her through her website, or e-mail here at [email protected]

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Mike McDerment

This week we spoke with the founder of FreshBooks, an online business that helps small business owners collect money, streamline their business, as well as track time for billing.  Mike started his business after feeling the pain that most small business owners experience with trying to collect money as well as track what money is owed.  The system is super straight forward, and is very easy to use.  It will allow the small business to collect their money through traditional means or through a credit card, whether you have a credit card processor or not.  Simple is the key word. 

Mike shared with us that it has been difficult to keep FreshBooks simple, and yet continue to add value added usability.  Often times our customers keep asking us to do more and to offer more.  Where do you draw the line? 

Then we talked a little bit about the culture at FreshBooks, and what do they to to maintain it.  From the hiring to the day to day operations, FreshBooks strives to hire those that would fit into the system with the same values.  This has helped them build a team that can work together and strive to grow the organization in a consistant way.

In our final segment with Mike, we got to know him a little more on the personal level.  He lives in Canada, he shared with us what was the first car he drove, and what was the latest book he read.  Mike also shared with us that he mistakenly first named his business SecondSite, and then realized he needed a new name.  Surfing in Costa Rica is his favorite place to vacation.

Mike also shared with us some of his marketing secrets and what they do to cultivate customers.  Having a great product though is the key to marketing.  Most small businesses overlook this, but it is very accurate.  Mike and his management team then do a lot of great customer service activities to make sure all their customers are having a great experience. 

If you’d like to learn more about Freshbooks, please visit their website at www.freshbooks.com .  Thanks Mike for your time and your willingness to share your story.

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Today we spoke with Heidi Ganahl about starting her $50 million dogie day care:  Camp Bow Wow.  Heidi very candidly shared with all about blowing $1 million dollars, starting smaller companies that were not in her passion, and what it took to franchise her business.

We continue our conversation with brothers Walter and Patrick who are on a road trip to talk to entrepreneurs across the country.  On the journey, they are giving out small grants to small businesses to keep taking risks. 

For more information, check out their website at milliondollarroadtrip.com

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Mike McDerment

Nick and Johnny finish their conversation with Mike, and talk about what it takes to run and grow this successful online company.  How do they deal with customers, and hiring, and where did it all come from.  You can learn more about FreshBooks at their website at www.Freshbooks.com

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Ralph Gregory

Talking with Ralph has not been like talking to our other guests.  There is a feeling that nothing will phase him, and I think that it is because he has seen it all.  He was very candid about life, starting out early in life in Chicago working his neighborhood to cut grass and do odd jobs…all the way up to sharing his new favorite pastime:  driving big boats.  Hear the rest of our conversation with Ralf.