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Cakes, Franchising and Marketing

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Today’s Your Biz, Your Town show guests are a diverse bunch, and we love it.
I would like to point out that I am not sure how Shelley manages her radio, TV show, emceeing 3 times a week, running 8 days a week and being mom to 3 little fur balls..has anyone checked to make sure there is only one of her? Or does she not sleep?
Well onto our guests.

Grand River Signs, FranNet
When Clark Communications told me about FranNet and local business owners, Russ & Donna Ramsay from Grand River Signs…I was very interested. FranNet provides education and support to individuals who are interested in exploring self employment as a career option through franchised business ownership. I have often had conversations with my husband about starting a business and we have always said that running an existing franchise is the way to go…but so many choices..where do you even start?

Local business owners, Russ & Donna Ramsay will share their story.
Here are some quick facts about franchising:

  • 42% higher success rate for franchises over startups.
  • Provide $660.9 billion of annual payrolls
  • Over 3,100 franchise concepts in over 90 different categories
  • There is no correlation between the cost of a franchise and the potential return.
  • Over $2.3 trillion business

Cakabakery
Local. Yummy. Creative. Those are the words that come to mind when I think of Cakabakery…and the fact that I hear the greatest things about owner, Jason Kakabaker. Yes, that is really his last name and if that isn’t fate, I don’t know what is.
Cakabakery  makes all of their cakes and desserts just for you from raw ingredients. That means they can make just about anything you’d like. They create desserts of all flavors, fillings, shapes and sizes.
Oh…did we mention he submitted an entry for the Food Network Cupcake Wars?

AMA West Michigan
The American Marketing Association of west Michigan  is a professional association for individuals and organizations involved in the practice, teaching and study of marketing worldwide. It is an organization that holds educational programs centered around current trends, topics and issues in the world of marketing.

Check out their upcoming programs.

Every month Your Biz, Your Town strives to highlight professional associations, nonprofits, upcoming events and spotlight small business.

Interested in being profiled? *@*******gn.com“>Email us.

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The power of the Women`s Entrepreneurial Fellowship, in a graduate`s own words:

"Growth is never accidental, it comes from being willing to learn, adapt, and embrace change. After nine months of dedication, reflection, and business development, I proudly graduated from the Women`s Entrepreneurial Fellowship (WEF) during the Small Business Association of Michigan Annual Meeting.

Throughout the program, I challenged myself to evaluate every aspect of my business, celebrating what was working while identifying opportunities for growth and improvement. The journey was made even more meaningful through the support of an incredible cohort of women entrepreneurs, the guidance of mentor Gina Jacquart Thorsen, and the leadership of bodespeaks and her team.

A sincere thank you to smallbusinessassocofmichigan for investing in second-stage women business owners and creating opportunities that empower entrepreneurs to build stronger, more sustainable businesses."

— Mary A. Barton, President and CEO of Equitable Accounting Solutions and proud WEF graduate.

Applications for the next cohort are now open. Link in comments.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18099893149922914
The power of the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship, in a graduate's own words: "Growth is never accidental, it comes from being willing to learn, adapt, and embrace change. After nine months of dedication, reflection, and business development, I proudly graduated from the Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship (WEF) during the Small Business Association of Michigan Annual Meeting. Throughout the program, I challenged myself to evaluate every aspect of my business, celebrating what was working while identifying opportunities for growth and improvement. The journey was made even more meaningful through the support of an incredible cohort of women entrepreneurs, the guidance of mentor Gina Jacquart Thorsen, and the leadership of bodespeaks and her team. A sincere thank you to smallbusinessassocofmichigan for investing in second-stage women business owners and creating opportunities that empower entrepreneurs to build stronger, more sustainable businesses." — Mary A. Barton, President and CEO of Equitable Accounting Solutions and proud WEF graduate. Applications for the next cohort are now open. Link in comments.

"Out of failure comes growth – you have to see it as an opportunity."

bodespeaks joined cuzzinjustin on the strictlyfromnowhere Podcast for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, embracing your superpowers, and building a personal brand that`s actually yours, the wins, the setbacks, and everything in between. And naturally, dropped an f-bomb or two along the way. You don`t want to miss it.

Full episode in the comments 👇

2 1
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17903563788460776
"Out of failure comes growth – you have to see it as an opportunity." bodespeaks joined cuzzinjustin on the strictlyfromnowhere Podcast for an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, embracing your superpowers, and building a personal brand that's actually yours, the wins, the setbacks, and everything in between. And naturally, dropped an f-bomb or two along the way. You don't want to miss it. Full episode in the comments 👇

AI doesn`t treat every source equally; it trusts what`s credible, cited, and current, like news coverage.

Showing up in the right places isn`t just good PR. It`s how the robots (and the humans) get you right.

Read the full blog at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18141485725556889
AI doesn't treat every source equally; it trusts what's credible, cited, and current, like news coverage. Showing up in the right places isn't just good PR. It's how the robots (and the humans) get you right. Read the full blog at the link in bio.

"If you don`t get up and grind every day, the needle isn`t gonna move."

We sat down with brandonmccraney, founder and Master Blender behind olderaleighdistillery in Zebulon, North Carolina. Brandon spent fifteen years just thinking about whiskey before he finally opened his doors, and even then it took four more years, a dozen rejections, construction delays, and a global pandemic to get there. Two years later, Olde Raleigh had already won Best Micro Distillery in the US.

Check out the latest episode of Happy Hour Hustle, where Brandon shares what it actually took to grow a business through COVID, the military discipline that kept him going when everything else said quit, and how working with people turned out to be the hardest part of the job.

Listen to Happy Hour Hustle on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and watch the whole episode on Youtube. Link in bio.

23 2
Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18054365240537765
"If you don't get up and grind every day, the needle isn't gonna move." We sat down with brandonmccraney, founder and Master Blender behind olderaleighdistillery in Zebulon, North Carolina. Brandon spent fifteen years just thinking about whiskey before he finally opened his doors, and even then it took four more years, a dozen rejections, construction delays, and a global pandemic to get there. Two years later, Olde Raleigh had already won Best Micro Distillery in the US. Check out the latest episode of Happy Hour Hustle, where Brandon shares what it actually took to grow a business through COVID, the military discipline that kept him going when everything else said quit, and how working with people turned out to be the hardest part of the job. Listen to Happy Hour Hustle on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and watch the whole episode on Youtube. Link in bio.

It`s 9 months that is impossible to sum up in a video - but here`s just a taste.

This Women`s Entrepreneurial Fellowship is resources, mentorship, and connections that you can`t build anywhere else. We`re so exicted for what the next cohort will bring.

Apply now at the link in bio.
smallbusinessassocofmichigan

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 17895511302506558
It's 9 months that is impossible to sum up in a video - but here's just a taste. This Women's Entrepreneurial Fellowship is resources, mentorship, and connections that you can't build anywhere else. We're so exicted for what the next cohort will bring. Apply now at the link in bio. smallbusinessassocofmichigan