How Looking Back Can Lead to Forward-Thinking Business Ideas

Kayla Castañeda, founder of Agua Bonita, brings a refreshing twist to the traditional Mexican drink, aguas frescas, blending heritage and innovation in every sip. With a rich personal story rooted in her family's heritage, Kayla's mission is to share an elevated version of this beloved beverage. After navigating challenges like job loss during the pandemic and financial struggles, she successfully funded her startup through pitch competitions, culminating in a victory on Amazon Prime Video's Buy It Now series, where she secured a $20,000 cash prize. Her winning recipe? A powerful blend of authenticity, determination, and connecting with the right audience. You can watch Agua Bonita's episode on the Buy it Now show titled: Tony Pops Off.Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video. 

From a chaotic childhood to joining the military at 17, this entrepreneur discovered the therapeutic power of science and gamified it. In this special Veteran's Day episode of This is Small Business, John Coveyou, founder and CEO of Genius Games, a science-based board game company that has sold over half a million units worldwide, shares his journey. He discusses how military principles shaped his entrepreneurial mindset and led him to create engaging educational games. John shares the pivotal moment that inspired his first game and how crowdfunding transformed his hobby into a successful business.In this episode you’ll discover: (0:00) How various business principles overlap with lessons learned in the military.(1:50) John explains how his interest in science helped him cope during tough times in the military.(2:59) While teaching chemistry, John noticed that his students were intimidated by the subject, sparking his idea for a game.(03:09) John connects the excitement of gaming to learning science and decides to create a game.(3:50) John details his early experiments with game mechanics and his journey through game design clubs.(4:12) How feedback from play-tests led to the creation of John’s first game and the push to publish it.(4:49) John discusses how his crowdfunding campaigns validated his business idea and led to further success.(5:37) The moment John decided to leave his engineering job and pursue his passion full-time.(7:20) John explains the After Action Review process and how it encourages continual improvement in business.(12:35) The power of perspective in entrepreneurship, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.

Matthew Tesvich, the CEO of Skunk Skin turned his personal battle with stinky feet into a thriving business with his innovative odorless socks. Hear about his experience on "Buy It Now," where he impressed judges like Jamie Siminoff, and learn the key lessons he gathered on entrepreneurship, marketing, and overcoming challenges. You can watch Skunk Skin's episode on the Buy it Now show titled: Lions and Ducks and Skunks, Oh My!Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video. In this episode you’ll learn: (0:06): How Matthew’s lifelong issue with stinky feet inspired him to create Skunk Skin, a line of odorless socks, highlighting the power of turning personal challenges into innovative solutions.(02:38): After a career-ending injury, Matthew pivoted from aspiring baseball player to entrepreneur, demonstrating how setbacks can lead to new opportunities and the importance of creative problem-solving.(06:02): Matthew discusses how he used press and publicity strategies, including catchy email subject lines, to gain media attention and boost sales, underscoring the value of effective marketing in a startup’s success.(11:43): Matthew reveals his pitching tactics, including price anchoring and engaging storytelling, that helped him impress the judges and win a spot on the Buy It Now Amazon store, illustrating key techniques for successful pitches.

Meet Keith Lorren, a.k.a. The Spice King on Buy It Now. With his aromatic cooking seasonings, he swooned a panel of industry judges, complete with a live cooking demo and an original song. We delve into how his vibrant personality and unique approach won him a spot in the Buy It Now store and a $20,000 prize. Tune in for an inspiring story of perseverance and creativity that might just ignite your own entrepreneurial dreams. You can watch The Spice King's episode on the Buy it Now show titled: Turning Up the Spice.Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video. In this episode you’ll discover: (03:28): Keith's culinary passion stems from a rich family history of cooking, highlighting the importance of heritage in his business journey.(05:46): Overcoming financial hurdles, Keith shares how he used creative strategies like selling Ziploc bags of spices to fund his dream before scaling up.(10:11) His theatrical pitch included a catchy original song, demonstrating the power of creativity in capturing audience attention and standing out in a competitive space.(16:11): After winning the $20,000 prize, Keith immediately focused on improving his product and packaging, showcasing his commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

“Stumble, stumble forward.” That’s the key advice of Scott and Paige Putnam, founders of Swat n Scoop, and winners of Prime Video's Buy It Now. This father-daughter entrepreneurial duo share the origins of their innovative product, which began with a scream— the kind every parent knows all too well. With a blend of humour and heart, they discuss the challenges of creating a humane bug-catching product. Scott describes the evolution of their idea from a father’s determination to save the day without harming any being. From facing fears and finding unexpected solutions, to learning the power of saying, “no’, their insights are invaluable for anyone considering starting their own business. You can watch Swat n Scoop's episode on the Buy it Now show titled: The Big Scream.Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video. In this episode you’ll discover: (05:42): Scott’s initial idea for the Swat N Scoop evolved from a basic bug-removal tool to a more refined product through extensive feedback and design iterations, showcasing the importance of a minimal viable product.(06:16): Scott conducted rigorous testing to ensure the product's durability, including extreme scenarios like freezing the tool and swatting it against sharp objects, emphasizing the need for quality assurance in product development.(08:44): Despite significant personal challenges, including a house fire and health issues, Scott remained focused on launching Swat N Scoop, demonstrating resilience and determination in the face of adversity.(13:10): Scott and Paige's engaging pitch on the "Buy It Now" show resulted in 51 green lights from the audience, validating their product and confirming its market potential, further supported by positive feedback from the panel.

A tragedy near-miss turned this healthcare professional into an entrepreneur. Her toddler was crying, but no sound was coming out: a clear sign of choking for any medical professional. Felicia Jackson's nightmare scenario inspired a product that is literally saving lives: CPR Wrap.Host, Andrea Marquez explores the backstory and journey of Felicia’s invention, what led her to audition to Buy it Now, and how that experience (and the $20,000 cash prize) will take her business to new heights. While featured guest, Jamie Siminoff, founder and inventor of RING, points out key lessons you can takeaway from Felicia's pitch. You can watch CPR Wrap's episode on the Buy it Now show titled: The Panel Gets Dirty.Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video. In this episode, you'll discover: (00:21) How Prime Video's Buy It Now show works, the stakes involved, and just how difficult it is to convince an audience of 100 to buy your product. (04:02) The backstory of how Jamie Siminoff created the Ring app, and why shows like Buy it Now can be life-changing for entreprenuers. (06:41) What made CPR Wrap a unique and essential product. (08:03) The moment that changed Felicia’s life trajectory. A moment that could have been fatal, and propelled her to dream up CPR Wrap. (11:07) How Felicia quit her job in secret to create CPR Wrap, a risk she says was inevitable. Thankfully her husband was fully committed at that point, too. (12:13) Why having a strong support system and community is paramount to being successful. (14:55) What stage Felicia's business was at when she decided to send in an audition to the Buy it Now show.(15:57) How Felicia spent countless hours practicing her show-day pitch. (18:43) Jamie's first impression and feedback of CPR Wrap.(23:00) Felicia's reaction to winning and how she's planning on spending her cash prize.(25:04) Jamie, Andrea, and Felicia share some actionable takeaways that you can use to take your business to the next level! 

A behind-the-scenes look into Emmy Award-nominated entrepreneurship show "Start Up" on PBS. Gary Bredow and Jenny Feterovich explore the power of storytelling in entrepreneurship and the journey that led them to creating their successful show Start Up. Gary reflects on his childhood experiences that ignited his entrepreneurial spirit, while Jenny shares her journey from the Soviet Union to becoming a successful storyteller and business owner. They discuss how Start Up has evolved to inspire others to pursue their dreams, emphasizing resilience, community support, and the impact of authentic storytelling in connecting with audiences and driving meaningful change.In this episode you’ll discover:(01:06) "Start Up" is a national PBS series that explores the mindset and experiences of American entrepreneurs, aiming to inspire and educate viewers.(01:19) The show's goal is to motivate dreamers to take action by showcasing relatable stories of diverse individuals pursuing their entrepreneurial dreams, both in America and globally.(1:53) Gary’s entrepreneurial spark was ignited by witnessing a small business story unfold in his own home.(4:49) Jenny’s entrepreneurial journey was sparked by a trip across the globe. (7:33) How Gary came up with the idea behind Start Up to solve a problem.(9:10) How Gary and Jenny started working together.(11:42) The ways in which the show evolved over time. (13:59) Why sharing personal stories is important and brings people closer together. (15:05) How Start Up pushed an aspiring entrepreneur to pursue his dreams. (16:20) Beyond helping entrepreneurs, Start Up also helps the featured businesses that make it on the show grow. (18:45) Motivational words from Jenny and Gary.

Are you an entrepreneur looking to turn your big idea into a successful business? Welcome to "This is Small Business: Behind the Buy", the official companion podcast to the Buy it Now show from Amazon Prime Video. Hosted by Andrea Marquez from This is Small Business, and featuring Jamie Siminoff, creator of Ring, this special season of TISB dives deep into the world of Buy it Now and the entrepreneurs who are building their businesses one pitch at a time. Every Thursday, we follow up with the winner of the previous night’s episode of Buy It Now on Prime Video. You'll hear directly from the entrepreneurs who took the stage, revealing the backstories, challenges, and business strategies that turned their dreams into reality.Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an avid fan of the Buy It Now show, "Behind the Buy" offers behind-the-scenes stories that will inspire you to take the next step in your own business journey. From the intense preparation to the thrill of winning, we explore every angle of what it takes to pitch, win, and build a thriving business. Discover how each Buy It Now winner plans to use their prize to scale their business and how you can apply these lessons to your own entrepreneurial path.Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video. 

Can you still start a business if you’ve got no space or time to create, store, and pack your products at home? Just ask Marilyn Yang, the Co-Founder and CEO of Popadelics, who managed to do just that by starting her business remotely using third party logistics. She shares the ins and outs of outsourcing your operations as a startup, some of the early risks she had to take to make it work, and the benefits and challenges that might come your way.In this episode, you’ll learn: (01:05) How Marilyn, a picky eater, created and introduced mushroom chips to the snacking world. (02:38) The steps it took for Marilyn and her husband to collaborate with a food start-up consulting firm. (03:25) What to do if you hit a snag with your outsourced co-packer. In this case, Marilyn had ingredients that took many months to arrive with nowhere to go, and a co-packer that was still on the fence – but she still managed to make it work. (6:42) Why Marilyn started her business using third party logistics – something that companies usually do as they scale.(7:30) How outsourcing your operations can help your business scale faster.(8:29) How having your operations spread out across the US can make your business eligible for more opportunities but makes applying to them more complicated. (10:11) How to balance running a remote business with the rest of your life. 

How can the right ad strategy help your business stand out in a crowded market? Just ask Kyle Goguen and Garrett Gosselin, the co-founders of CRBN Pickleball, who transformed their passion for pickleball into a thriving brand by leveraging the power of Amazon Ads. Discover how the right advertising helped them showcase their unique brand identity and stay ahead of the competition. Whether you're new to advertising or looking to fine-tune your approach, you’ll walk away with actionable lessons on maximizing your ad spend, using Amazon ads to increase brand awareness, and converting potential customers into loyal fans.Learn the importance of testing and refining your ad strategy, how to use data-driven insights to optimize campaigns, and why it’s crucial to tell your brand’s story through ads. In this episode, you'll discover:(1:08) How Garrett came up with CRBN pickleball(2:33) How to find the perfect business partner by combining complementary talents, just like Garrett and Kyle did to build CRBN Pickleball.(4:35) How to stand out in a competitive market by creating a strong brand identity. CRBN's "Southern California" vibe helped them break through the noise — how can your brand story do the same?(6:58) Why incorporating Amazon Ads into your marketing strategy could be the game-changer your business needs.(8:41) How CRBN used data to track the results of their ad campaigns and how you can implement that. (11:11) Why you should embrace experimentation and data analysis to continuously improve your Amazon Ads strategy and how those insights can shape other areas of your businessWatch full episodes of Rising Stars by Amazon Ads here: thisissmall.biz/crbn