Bar Napkin Business

Paper Kite is a cheerful, brick and mortar boutique located in the charming College View neighborhood of Lincoln, Nebraska. Catering to “baby, home, and her”, each of their thoughtfully selected goods are handmade by local and regional artisans whenever possible. The shop is founded and managed by Meg Magsamen and has grown from one location to two in the last few years. In this episode, we talk about her first year in business and the emotions that strike any first time business owner. We also dig into the strategies behind growth, including Instagram and having an innate sense for what her customers want. For behind the scenes content and videos, visit Bar Napkin Business at www.barnapkinbusiness.co. Learn more about Meg and Paper Kite at www.paperkiteshop.com, or follow her on instagram at @paperkiteshop.

Jon Camp is a household name in the commercial real estate business in Lincoln, Nebraska. The founder of Haymarket Developers, Jon saw an opportunity several decades ago and took a huge risk in investing in dilapidated buildings in the city's downtown district, now called the Haymarket. Join us as we talk with Jon about risking his money, relationships, and identity to build a thriving commercial real estate business in one of the midwest's top startup cities. Discover the two things that he believes are essential to being an entrepreneur, and the one word that doesn't exist in his vocabulary. For behind the scenes content and videos, visit Bar Napkin Business at www.barnapkinbusiness.co. Learn more about Jon Camp and Haymarket Developers at http://lincolnhaymarket.com/.

Brett Byman grew up in an entrepreneurial family, helping his family in their business of cleaning and maintaining Interstate facilities. A unique study abroad opportunity in college resulted in a taste of startups and high growth companies, to which he couldn't get enough. After graduating college and completing a "technology entrepreneurial bootcamp", he connected with another co-founder and along with a team, developed Nobl - a company that utilizes technology to improve communication, workflow, and processes for healthcare providers. After four years growing that business, he's now focusing on a new entrepreneurial venture called Retail Aware -- a startup that provides real-time analytics to manufacturers in retail stores. In this interview we talk about the challenges of raising money, building and growing a startup, getting people to believe in your idea, and why he would rather swim with sharks than climb Mount Everest!  For behind the scenes content and videos, visit Bar Napkin Business at www.barnapk

Luke Hansen grew up helping his dad with the family roofing business. When he moved into a manager role, he discovered there was no easy way to track progress at a job site or communicate about deliveries of supplies. So, he went to work - getting an MVP built with the help of a local software company and launched the company now known as Company Cam. Rather than building a product to serve just their company, Luke and his team realized they could sell their product to other businesses that were similar to theirs. Listen to this interview as we talk about the challenging aspects of building a software company from a small business beginning, hiring people, and the most valuable character traits he looks for when building a team.  For behind the scenes content and videos, visit Bar Napkin Business at www.barnapkinbusiness.co. Connect with Company Cam at www.companycam.com or on Facebook or Instagram!

As a candle maker, how do you go from the kitchen table to retail shelves? On this episode of Bar Napkin Business, we dig into the accidental entrepreneurial journey of Alicia Reisinger, founder of Wax Buffalo. In just a couple of years, Alicia has taken her business from a home-based hobby to a small scale operation, with a commercial space and distribution to over 30 stores across the country. Learn more about Alicia's key learnings in growing her business, the Hollywood and celebrity story linked to her brand, and the narrative behind the scents and products.  For behind the scenes content and videos, visit Bar Napkin Business at www.barnapkinbusiness.co. Connect with Wax Buffalo at www.waxbuffalo.com or on Facebook or Instagram!

Ever dream of turning your hobby into a business? On this episode of Bar Napkin Business, we chat with Marcus Powers, COO and Co-Founder of Zipline Brewery in Lincoln, Nebraska. Though Marcus never thought he'd go from home brew to commercial production, a chance encounter with two fellow brewing enthusiasts changed his mind. A short while later, he found himself in a world of business plans, loans, distributors, and employees -- in one of the fastest growing breweries in the region. Learn more about Marcus' journey and what he learned along the way about success, failure, and the most important parts of running and growing a business. For behind the scenes content and videos, visit Bar Napkin Business at www.barnapkinbusiness.co. Connect with Zipline Brewery at www.ziplinebrewing.com. 

IT'S BAR TALK. JUST FOR SMALL BUSINESS. Looking to grow your company or small business? Join us each week for Bar Napkin Business as we share actionable tips and insights from business owners who've faced every challenge in the book. Hosted by Matt Taylor and Ali Schwanke. If you want to increase your profits and grow your small business, we've got the quick and dirty tips to get you there. Plus it's free, and it's filmed at a bar. Does it get any better?