Celebrating Small Family Businesses

Family Business Done Right: The Bear Iron Works Story

In this episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses, we sit down with Mike and Roggen Frick, the father-and-son team behind Bear Iron Works, a fast-growing manufacturing company serving the civil construction industry nationwide. What started as a few handmade rock screens turned into a full-scale operation—launched during COVID—built on trust, clear roles, strong culture, and smart systems. Mike and Roggen share how they’ve grown Bear Iron Works while working remotely, applying corporate principles without losing the heart of a family business. This conversation is full of practical insights for family business owners, contractors, and anyone navigating growth without sacrificing relationships. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: 1. How Bear Iron Works got started—almost by accident 2. Turning a side hustle into a scalable manufacturing business 3. Launching and growing during COVID 4. Separating family roles from business roles 5. Running operations remotely without losing quality or culture 6. Cash flow challenges and the shift to e-commerce 7. Applying corporate principles in a small family business 8. Building trust across generations 9. What’s next for Bear Iron Works ABOUT BEAR IRON WORKS Bear Iron Works designs and manufactures heavy-duty equipment for the civil construction industry, including grizzly rock screens, bedding boxes, concrete washout tubs, tracking pads, and more. Their products are built in the U.S. and shipped nationwide. 🌐 Website: https://bearironworks.net [https://bearironworks.net/] 💸 Listener Discount Use code CELEBRATE for 5% off your entire order. CONNECT WITH BEAR IRON WORKS 1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bearironworks/ 2. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearIronWorks 3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearironworks/ 4. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bearironworks TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 – Introduction to Bear Iron Works and the Frick family 00:01:00 – How Bear Iron Works first got started 00:02:00 – Building grizzly rock screens during college 00:04:00 – Restarting the business during COVID 00:05:00 – Early growth and first major customers 00:07:00 – Running the business remotely 00:09:00 – Separating family and business roles 00:12:00 – Growing up in construction and learning in the field 00:15:00 – Standing out in the construction management world 00:16:00 – Being offered buyouts—and saying no 00:18:00 – Cash flow challenges during rapid growth 00:20:00 – Moving to e-commerce to stabilize cash flow 00:23:00 – What Mike and Roggen have learned about each other 00:25:00 – Trust, leadership, and letting the next generation lead 00:27:00 – Applying corporate principles in a family business 00:30:00 – Company culture and the four-day work week 00:32:00 – What’s next for Bear Iron Works 00:35:00 – Final advice for small and family business owners If you enjoyed this episode: 1. 👍 Like and subscribe on YouTube 2. 🎧 Follow the podcast on your favorite listening platform 3. ⭐ Leave a review to help more people find the show 4. 🔁 Share this episode with a fellow small or family business owner

The Deal That Didn’t Happen: Why Walking Away Was the Best Business Move

In this episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses, we are joined by the dynamic husband-and-wife duo, Andrea and Ray Bryant. Their story is the perfect example of how one closed door can lead to a much better open one. Andrea shares her journey from a burned-out second-grade teacher to a real estate flipper, and finally, to the owner of Staged Right LLC. You’ll hear the incredible story of how they almost bought an existing staging business, only to discover red flags (and a "mean" owner) that made them run in the opposite direction. Instead of buying a legacy of bad vibes, they bought a U-Haul and started from scratch! Ray joins the conversation to talk about his role as the supportive spouse with a W2 job, the "Sanford and Son" days of their early inventory, and why he knew Andrea could succeed before she believed it herself. We also dive into the nitty-gritty of scaling a family business, including how Andrea built a team so trustworthy that she was able to take a one-month vacation while the business kept humming. In this episode, we discuss: * The Career Pivot: Moving from the pressure of standardized testing in schools to the creativity of home staging. * Due Diligence: The story of shadowing a business owner for two months and realizing you shouldn't buy their company. * The "Ray" Factor: How to balance a full-time job while supporting your spouse’s new entrepreneurial venture (and doing the heavy lifting!). * Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Why "I don't know how to do that" shouldn't stop you. * The "Clockwork" Moment: How Andrea successfully stepped away for a month-long vacation without the business falling apart. * Giving Back: How Staged Right uses their inventory to support The Joshua House, a local shelter for abused and neglected children. Mentioned in this Episode: * Book Recommendation: Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz (John’s pick for business systems!) * Charity Spotlight: The Joshua House [https://www.friendsofjoshuahouse.org/] Connect with Staged Right: * Website: https://stagedrightllc.com/ * Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/stagedrightllc A Note from John & Connie: We loved Andrea’s advice at the end: "You can do more than you think you can do." Sometimes, it just takes a supportive partner and a little push to realize your own potential. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review! 00:00 Introduction to Staged Right LLC 00:38 Andrea's Journey from Teaching to House Flipping 01:13 The Unexpected Opportunity 02:10 Starting Staged Right LLC 03:43 Challenges and Early Successes 05:31 The Importance of Staging in Real Estate 07:53 Personal Stories and Lessons Learned 13:34 Balancing Business and Personal Life 16:53 Reflecting on Career Choices 17:36 Learning About Each Other 19:19 Advice for Couples in Business 20:00 Balancing Business and Personal Life 21:04 The Joy of Staging 22:43 Charity Work and Giving Back 23:56 Building a Self-Sustaining Business 31:05 Encouragement for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

30 Years, 8 Books, Zero Regrets: How Hank & Sharyn Built Yuloff Creative

We had such a blast sitting down with Hank and Sharyn Yuloff of Yuloff Creative Marketing Solutions! This husband-and-wife team has been coaching small businesses for over 30 years, and their energy is absolutely infectious. What we loved most about this conversation was how real they kept it. From Hank's origin story (involving his mom, a fax machine, and a fateful Thanksgiving dinner) to Sharyn's journey from HR management to becoming a powerhouse business coach, these two prove that the best business partnerships start with genuine friendship and mutual respect. They share relatable insights about why small businesses struggle, the real difference between working IN your business versus ON your business, and why you absolutely do NOT need a logo, website, or fancy social media presence to land your first client. (Yes, really!) We also dug into the challenges of working with your spouse, the importance of getting coaching (even when you think you can do it all yourself), and how to actually take a vacation when you ARE the business. Hank and Sharyn Yuloff bring a unique perspective to small business marketing. Hank is a targeted marketing tactician with over 35 years of experience helping small businesses grow bigger. Sharyn's expertise spans business affairs, HR, and online marketing. Together, they've created Yuloff Creative Marketing Solutions, offering complete traditional and technological marketing plans for small companies who never thought they could afford a Chief Marketing Officer. They teach Small Business Breakthrough Bootcamp intensives and run a coaching program where they work two-on-one with business owners on sales, marketing, HR, and systems. Their clients call them their "Business Easy Button." They're also authors of eight best-selling business books with two more on the way! CONNECT WITH HANK AND SHARYN: 🔗 Free 30-minute consultation: HowToGetThereFaster.com 📚 Check out their eight best-selling business books on Amazon www.YuloffCreative.com Facebook Page @YuloffCreative Instagram @YuloffCreative YouTube Channel www.YouTube.com/YuloffCreative LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/yuloffcreativemarketingsolutions Their motto says it all: "If everything happens for a reason, be the reason things happen." We absolutely loved this conversation and know you will too. If you're a small business owner feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just ready to take things to the next level, Hank and Sharyn's wisdom is exactly what you need to hear. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome and introductions - Meeting Hank and Sharyn Yuloff 04:00 The fax machine, Mom's advice, and starting a business on Thanksgiving 08:00 Why HR is just internal marketing 16:00 What they've learned about each other working together daily 19:00 Founder syndrome and why nonprofits ARE businesses 24:00 You don't need a logo or website to get your first client - Just start! 26:00 The reality check - You'll work harder but it's more rewarding 32:00 Serving your life, not serving your business - Taking real vacations 38:00 What's next and how to connect with Hank and Sharyn #FamilyBusiness #BusinessCoaching #MarketingTips #CouplesInBusiness #MarketingStrategy #HRForSmallBusiness #WorkingWithYourSpouse #YuloffCreative

From Cowboy Trucker to Real Estate Wrangler

We had such a blast sitting down with the dynamic duo behind Real Estate Corral Investors Network - Clifford and Brandy Walker from Dallas, Texas! This episode is packed with genuine wisdom, humor, and real-world advice from a couple who transformed their lives from a truck driver and teacher into successful real estate investors and educators. What We Discovered: ✅ How a podcast changed everything for this trucking family ✅ The "secret sauce" to ethical real estate investing ✅ Why serving others beats low-balling every time ✅ How to handle the ups and downs of entrepreneurship as a couple ✅ The ice cream strategy for difficult conversations (seriously!) ✅ Building wealth through wholesaling, fix & flips, and rentals Clifford and Brandy shared their journey of discovery with refreshing honesty - from cutting coupons and stretching dollars to building a thriving real estate education business. Their approach focuses on serving sellers in tough situations rather than taking advantage, proving that you can do well by doing good in real estate. Key Takeaways We Loved:  • Focus on serving rather than just selling • "It'll all work itself out" - faith-based business approach • Embrace different working styles in partnerships • Make business fun, even during stressful seasons • Match real estate strategies to current financial needs • Ice cream makes every difficult conversation better! The Walkers prove that with the right mindset, strong partnership, and genuine desire to help others, you can build both wealth and impact. Their story will inspire anyone looking to start a family business or break into real estate investing. Connect with Real Estate Corral:  Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/cliffordthecowboycloser [https://calendly.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcliffordthecowboycloser&user_uuid=DBCFKIRNZ2BM76ZW&stage=1&hmac=7fc20790f0ea8c4ca463ea7cd14c1f9afb76ba08599756319489ea47feefd1f8] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cliffordthecowboycloser/ [https://calendly.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fcliffordthecowboycloser%2F&user_uuid=DBCFKIRNZ2BM76ZW&stage=1&hmac=0f751ee4204f41e22b365149e2f24ae90d36525b587da65836004034e9f26e62] YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@CliffordTheCowboyCloser [https://calendly.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2F%40CliffordTheCowboyCloser&user_uuid=DBCFKIRNZ2BM76ZW&stage=1&hmac=594b231a36aab1d5d1c1b7bcbf70989080820a0f2a3c284c2dd512bb8ae466b6] Clifford's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roadmap-Success-Driver-Estate-Investor/dp/B0BCZTFKSD/ [https://www.amazon.com/Roadmap-Success-Driver-Estate-Investor/dp/B0BCZTFKSD/] 🕐 TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Welcome & Introductions - We meet the Walkers [01:00] From Truck Driver to Real Estate - The Origin Story [03:00] The Secret Sauce - Why Service Beats Sales [06:00] Creating Win-Win Situations in Real Estate [08:30] Brandy's Transition from Teaching to Real Estate [09:30] Discovering Each Other's "Cowboy" Tendencies [12:00] The Challenge of Delegation in Family Business [13:30] Making Business Fun During Volatile Times [16:00] Personal Growth Through Entrepreneurship [18:00] Why Most Business is About Solving Problems [20:00] Staying Present During Difficult Seasons [22:00] Business as Personal Development Vehicle [25:00] Learning from Community Members [27:00] Managing Revenue Volatility in Real Estate [30:00] Division of Roles & Playing to Strengths [31:00] The Ice Cream Strategy for Difficult Conversations [33:00] What's Next - Publishing & Scaling Impact [35:00] Nationwide Community Building

Sweet Success with a Noble Purpose: Sugar and Spice Las Vegas

Welcome to another inspiring episode of Celebrating Small Family Businesses! Today we're featuring Sugar and Spice in Las Vegas - a family business with a powerful mission that creates gourmet chocolate-coated peanut butter balls. We had the pleasure of chatting with the Long family: Sheri and John Long, along with their children Aston, Keilani, and Alexis. What started as a teacher's side hustle in Southern California has grown into an award-winning Las Vegas chocolatier that provides meaningful employment opportunities for foster youth who have aged out of the system and individuals with developmental disabilities. KEY HIGHLIGHTS: * * 🏆 Gold Winner - Best of Las Vegas 2024 Chocolatier (3 years running!) * * * 🎯 Mission-Driven Business - Employing foster youth and individuals with autism * * * 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 True Family Teamwork - Each family member has found their unique role * * * 🏈 Surprise Ending - How they won Super Bowl tickets! * * * ☕ Big Dreams - Their goal to get into Starbucks nationwide This episode showcases the power of family teamwork, the importance of having a mission beyond profit, and how a small business can make a big impact in their community. Whether you're a family business owner or just love inspiring entrepreneurship stories, this episode has something for everyone! TIMESTAMPS: * * [00:00:00] Introduction and welcome * * * [00:01:00] The origin story - from teacher side hustle to full-time business * * * [00:02:00] Starting in Nevada right before COVID * * * [00:04:00] Awards and recognition, including Best of Las Vegas * * * [00:05:00] What they love about working as a family * * * [00:09:00] How each family member discovered their strengths * * * [00:13:00] The importance of making participation a choice * * * [00:18:00] How Sheri's teaching background helped * * * [00:21:00] Overcoming their biggest challenge - COVID * * * [00:28:00] Corporate gifts and cross-promotion strategies * * * [00:33:00] Super Bowl and F1 opportunities in Las Vegas * * * [00:35:00] The viral Super Bowl ticket surprise video * * * [00:36:00] Future plans and expansion goals * * * [00:42:00] Celebrating small wins on the path to big dreams * * * [00:44:00] Advice for other family businesses * * * [00:45:00] Where to find Sugar and Spice * CONNECT WITH SUGAR AND SPICE LAS VEGAS: * Instagram: @sugarandspicelasvegas (their biggest platform) * * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sugarandspicesales/# * * TikTok: @sugarandspicelasvegas * * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sugarandspicesaleslasvegas/ * * Website: https://sugarandspicelasvegas.com * PRODUCTS: Gourmet chocolate peanut butter balls available in 4-count and 12-count boxes, featuring smooth chocolate coating with a "surprise crunch" inside. Available at various locations throughout Las Vegas, Reno, Mesquite, and expanding to Texas and Manhattan!