How to Start and Launch a Food Business on Social Media with Alex Thiakos

How to Start and Launch a Food Business on Social Media with Alex Thiakos

Turning a family legacy into a spicy social media sensation...this episode features Alex, a young food mogul, sharing his journey from vending machines to disrupting the spice industry all while building his brand in plain sight (and with a lot of humor). Buckle up for lessons on staying authentic, leveraging social media, and reinventing old-school branding. Host: Sara Press - Follow on Instagram: @withsarapress [www.instagram.com/withsarapress] Guest: Alex Thiakos - Follow on Instagram: @alexthiakos [www.instagram.com/alexthiak] Spice Company: www.teliaspice.com [www.teliaspice.com] IN THIS EPISODE: * How Alex’s Greek granddad’s produce route sparked a spice empire * The genius behind niche branding and targeting quality-conscious millennials * The secret sauce: building your brand publicly on social media to foster community * Content variety: storytelling, behind-the-scenes, and viral stunts * The power of transparency — sharing the good, bad, and ugly of entrepreneurship * The importance of timing, scarcity, and smart launches * Balancing regulation, packaging, and product development as a solo founder * Why most founders need to learn to say no and protect their energy TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - How a Greek grandfather’s produce route sparked a spice empire 02:00 - Transitioning from paper goods to a full-on spice venture 03:10 - The power of a funny, authentic social media presence 04:30 - Building a community before launching: lessons from Poppy and others 06:00 - Why staying in your vertical can accelerate growth 07:45 - Using social proof and transparency to attract customers 09:00 - The challenge of content discovery and trend adaptation 10:40 - How Alex’s behind-the-scenes videos created engagement and virality 13:00 - The role of humor and personality in social content 14:30 - The initial cringe of putting yourself out there and how family reacts 16:00 - Building a brand that viewers feel connected to 17:00 - Insights on product naming, packaging polls, and community input 18:30 - Launch strategies: building hype and managing limited SKUs 21:00 - Preparing for a September launch: logistics, scarcity, and platform decisions 23:00 - Hard lessons in social media and content adaptation 24:45 - Navigating regulations, sourcing, and packaging as a solo founder 25:30 - Narrowing down your target customer in a broad market 26:30 - Marketing channels beyond social media: TikTok, Shopify, and collaborations 28:15 - Authentic cooking content and education about healthier spices 29:30 - Creative marketing ideas: funny street experiments and partnerships 30:40 - The shift from traditional branding to episodic mini-shows and storytelling 32:00 - The importance of systematizing operations before scaling 33:00 - The art of saying no, protecting your time, and finding joy in work 36:00 - Recognizing when your current path aligns with your passion 37:00 - The universe’s sign: when you’re genuinely excited about your work 38:00 - The advice: nobody cares — focus on your people and your purpose PRO TIP: BUILD YOUR STORY, LEAN INTO AUTHENTICITY, AND DON’T FORGET: NOBODY TRULY CARES ABOUT YOUR FEARS...THEY CARE ABOUT YOUR PASSION AND YOUR PRODUCT.

How to Start a Business, Scale to Multiple Locations & Bet on Yourself with Danielle Oyasu

What does it actually take to walk away from a career you’ve built and bet on yourself? Danielle Oyasu did exactly that and today she’s the founder and CEO of Beautifully New, a growing business that just opened its second location. In this episode, Sara and Danielle get into all of it: the pivot, the grind, the wins, the hard lessons, and what it really means to build something that lasts. Danielle shares the origin story behind Beautifully New, what pushed her to make the leap into entrepreneurship, and how she scaled from idea to opening doors, twice. She also gets candid about what it’s like to hire your own kids, navigate the chaos of social media as a business owner, and keep your vision clear when the day-to-day gets messy. Whether you’re thinking about starting a business, in the middle of building one, or just trying to figure out your next move, this conversation is packed with real talk and real strategy. In This Episode, We Cover: • How Danielle pivoted careers and made the leap to founding Beautifully New • What the early days of starting a business actually looked like • The strategy behind growing and scaling to a second location • What it’s like to hire your own children — the good, the real, and the unexpected • Social media for business owners: what’s working, what’s not, and the emotional rollercoaster in between • The trials and tribulations of entrepreneurship no one warns you about • Where Beautifully New is headed next and what Danielle’s vision looks like for the future Keywords & Topics: entrepreneurship, founder story, small business owner, medspa, business growth, career pivot, second location expansion, hiring family, social media for business, women in business, CEO mindset, scaling a business, business strategy, startup journey, entrepreneurial lessons, building a brand, business education, founder interview, small business podcast, business tips, how to start a business, growing a business, Nothing Small About Business podcast Connect with Danielle Ayasu & Beautifully New: • Instagram: Danielleatbnew [www.instagram.com/danielleatbnew] Connect with Sara: • Instagram: @withsarapress [www.instagram.com/withsarapress] • Press Edit: press-edit.com [http://press-edit.com] Loved this episode? Leave a review, share it with a fellow business owner, and subscribe so you never miss a conversation worth having. Big ideas. Real talk. Nothing small about it.

Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Lessons for Life: 26 Years in Tech with AJ Singh

For more than 26 years, AJ Singh has been building and leading Modularis in an industry defined by constant change. In this episode of Nothing Small About Business, AJ joins Sara and shares what it takes to navigate decades in the technology space, adapt through evolving markets, and continue growing as both a leader and entrepreneur. But this conversation goes far beyond business. AJ opens up about the lessons he’s learned through the highs, lows, challenges, and opportunities that come with a lifetime of entrepreneurship. From resilience and perspective to finding meaning in the journey, his insights offer valuable takeaways for business owners at every stage. Whether you’re building a company, leading a team, or simply looking for a fresh perspective on life, this episode is packed with wisdom earned through experience. In this episode: * How perfect timing and a dash of luck kickstarted a software empire in 1999 * The timeless principles of software engineering that stand the test of AI hype * Why humility, not ego, is the secret weapon for entrepreneurs * The importance of foundational architecture in software — build to last * How embracing constant learning keeps your business ahead of the curve * The mental health hacks of a CEO—sleep, exercise, and a touch of Hawaiian philosophy * The real deal on AI and code generation: from fear to opportunity * Strategies for maintaining work-life balance when your business is your life Sara Press on Instagram [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/www.instagram.com/withsarapress] Press Edit Website [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/www.press-edit.com] AJ Singh on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajsinh'] Modularis Official Website [https://www.modularis.com/]

Master Digital Marketing with CEO of Flying V Group, Robb Fahrion

Robb Fahrion shares his journey from bootstrapping a marketing agency with $15,000 to building a multimillion-dollar business. He discusses core principles of success, navigating change, effective marketing strategies, and the impact of AI on marketing today. Host: Sara Press - CEO Press Edit [www.press-edit.com] Guest: Robb Fahrion- CEO Flying V Group [www.flyingvgroup.com] Chapters 00:00 Building a Business from Scratch 04:01 Navigating Challenges in Family Business 09:10 Hiring and Scaling the Team 14:39 Adapting Marketing Strategies in a Changing Landscape 20:01 Targeting Local Customers Effectively 24:03 Maximizing ROI in Marketing 29:02 Understanding Customer Acquisition Costs 35:31 The Importance of Expert Guidance 39:35 Effective Budgeting for Small Businesses 42:25 Leveraging AI for Business Efficiency resources Flying V Group - https://flyingvgroup.com [https://flyingvgroup.com] AI Executive Playbook - https://flyingvgroup.com/ai-playbook [https://flyingvgroup.com/ai-playbook] guest links LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbfahrion [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbfahrion] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/robbfahrion [https://www.instagram.com/robbfahrion] Website - https://flyingvgroup.com [https://flyingvgroup.com] keywords Marketing, Business Growth, AI, Advertising, Small Business, Client Acquisition, Digital Marketing Trends, ROI, Paid Media, Organic Growth key topics Core principles of business success Impact of AI on marketing and search behavior Effective paid media strategies for local businesses

Why Women With Full Lives Crave Creativity with Party al Portico

Sara Press is joined by Gina, Danielle, and Deonna as theyspill the tea on turning creative chaos into Party al Portico! Think pumpkin schlepping, porch decorating, and strategic fun. Buckle up, because this episode is a heartwarming mix of hustle, humor, and how to keep your side gig joyful without losing your mind or your weekends. These women prove hustle doesn’t have to be all stress; sometimes it’s just about good vibes and great teamwork. IN THIS EPISODE: * Why they decided to add side gigs amidst full schedules * The power of using different parts of your brain—lawyering by day, decorating by night * How decorating porch pumpkins turned into holiday magic for the neighborhood * The importance of setting boundaries to keep it fun * Strategies for sourcing pumpkins and managing logistics like pros * How social media trends inspire and inform their biz * The future: plans for growth, training, and empowering other moms * The hottest decor trends and making memorable in-person experiences * Their top advice for friends dreaming of a side hustle with their best friends TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Welcome to the party: moms making magic with side hustles 02:23 - Team dynamics: how three busy moms keep it fun & organized 04:28 - The roots: from family parties to porch decor dreams 06:46 - Making it simple: customizable packages and avoiding overwhelm 09:13 - Why they’re choosing to keep it a side hustle for now 11:26 - Outside expectations & balancing family, friends, and biz 13:43 - The pumpkin primary: sourcing, schlepping, and logistics fun 17:19 - Pumpkins, workouts, and laughs—what makes the chaos fun 20:46 - Trends: pumpkin porches and social media inspo 24:40 - Planning for fall: capacity, outsourcing, and future growth 27:24 - Creating new jobs & involving other moms 28:15 - Hot trends: experience-based decor & events at every level 30:53 - The ultimate advice: keep it fun or pivot! RESOURCES & LINKS: * Party Al Portico Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/partyalportico] Host: Sara Press Instagram [instagram.com/withsarapress]