The Small Business Association of Michigan's Small Business Weekly Podcast

Building marketing fandoms and emotional connections

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Jay Norman, CEO and Co-Founder of Detroit-based culture and brand agency Verse and Hook. They are VIP members of the Small Business Association of Michigan. Moving away from traditional marketing models, the agency focuses on building deep emotional connections rather than just highlighting product benefits. "It's very much based on fandoms and connecting to the proxy things that allow people to make those decisions culturally and the groups that they end up spending time with," Norm says. "A lot of the decisions people have in terms of their fandoms are really based upon the things that they love and the things they share with their friends, family, and associates, and we have a very deep knowledge of how those things connect to their day-to-day consumption experience. So it really does change the way we think about the work, strategically." The Small Business Association of Michigan [http://www.sbam.org/] is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com [http://www.jukedeck.com/])

Building High-Performance Sales Teams Through Analytics and Diagnostics

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Daryn Lawson, an expert with SalesIndex and a VIP member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. His organization helps businesses optimize their revenue by applying data-driven diagnostics to the sales process using a specialized three-step methodology involving analysis, coaching, and training. "The analytics give us really a target, call it an MRI or a diagnostic like an auto mechanic would use, to really pinpoint exactly what each person in the sales role does," he says. "The analysis comes from the kind of an assessment that gives us the behavioral psychology and then tactical sales skills." Lawson emphasizes that long-term sales success is built on authentic relationships, discipline, and providing meaningful value to customers. The Small Business Association of Michigan [http://www.sbam.org/] is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com [http://www.jukedeck.com/])

The Betty Brigade: Navigating the Silver Tsunami of Downsizing

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Sharon McRill, owner of The Betty Brigade, a 2026 Michigan 50 Company to Watch. Operating nationwide, her business handles everything from virtual estimates to trust liquidations, ensuring meaningful items are preserved while simplifying lives. "We help people wherever they are, with whatever they need," she says. "Sometimes it's just organizing and moving, sometimes as we're clearing out a trust stuff needs to be shipped to beneficiaries all over the world. We handle that, too. So it's really about figuring out what is the right solution for that home and then putting together a plan for it." McRill is the author of Downsizing the Silver Tsunami, which addresses the unique psychological challenges of aging populations. The Small Business Association of Michigan [http://www.sbam.org/] is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com [http://www.jukedeck.com/])

Teamwork and strong core values make this small business a "Great Place to Work"

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Sonny Anani, president of Dynamic Glazing Systems – presented this year by Michigan Celebrates Small Business with the Michigan 50 Distinguished Alumni Award -- Great Place to Work. Dynamic Glazing Systems is a Detroit-based commercial glazing contractor specializing in glass and metal facades. Anani explains their "team before self" philosophy and the "ignite purpose" core value, which guides them in developing roles tailored to employee passions. When it comes to attracting workers, Anani says "we aren't just competing with glazing contractors; we're competing with everybody's talent pool—construction, real estate, hospitality. People are looking to buy their peace and time back. If you provide good compensation, insurance, and retirement, people are willing to come. Those people then create value, and it's a cycle that keeps giving." The Small Business Association of Michigan [http://www.sbam.org/] is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com [http://www.jukedeck.com/])

How a professional business broker can smooth the way toward successful transactions

On today's program, Michael Rogers talks with Shathi Govender, president of Transworld Business Advisors of Detroit South and an Elite member of the Small Business Association of Michigan. As a professional business broker, Gavender explains how his firm facilitates everything from small "mom and pop" transactions to large-scale mergers and acquisitions valued at millions of dollars. "What we would do is provide an accurate valuation on a business for the buyer and for the seller," he says. "And we've got a network of buyers, qualified buyers that we have access to and we'll provide those buyers to the sellers. We also know how to structure the deal, we've got access to find financing and we see the whole process through right to closing." The Small Business Association of Michigan [http://www.sbam.org/] is the only statewide and state-based association that focuses solely on serving the needs of Michigan's small business community. We have been successfully serving small businesses like yours in all 83 counties of Michigan since 1969. We're located in Lansing, just one block from the Capitol. Our mission is to help Michigan small businesses succeed by promoting entrepreneurship, leveraging buying power and engaging in political advocacy. When small businesses band together through the Small Business Association of Michigan, they achieve more than they could on their own. Our 32,000 members are as diverse as Michigan's economy. From accountants to appliance stores, manufacturers to medical, and restaurants to retailers, what unites the SBAM membership is the spirit of entrepreneurship…a spirit that drove you to start and continue to operate your own business because you believe you can do something better than anyone else is doing it! (music licensed from www.jukedeck.com [http://www.jukedeck.com/])