#9 Taking an idea from paper to reality, making tough decisions and creating a values driven business with Alysia Hess, Founder of The Occasional Collective
When Alysia Hess saw the little barber shop in her small town up for sale, she had no idea what she would do with it; she just knew she had to create something there. Pillows, local beef, and greeting cards were about to collide, creating the magical mix for a cozy boutique focused on sustainability and supporting local makers. Alicia talks about transitioning from her full-time job at the Henry Doorly Zoo to continue growing her business, The Occasional Collective. She dives into how she got the business off the ground in her small community and stays true to her values and brand pillars even when tough decisions must be made.
Unpacking this episode min by min:
1:21 - Introduction to Alysia Hess and The Occasional Collective
2:40 - What you will find in The Occasional Collective - a cozy mix of all things local
3:24 - Saw a building for sale, and Alysia knew she had to do something awesome with it
4:42 - An article about a local meat producer inspired her idea
5:33 - Working at the zoo shaped her mindset for conservation that influenced her idea further
6:00 - Sustainability has always been a priority, and the store inspires behavior change in her small-town community
7:46 - Everything is coming full circle for supporting conservation
8:07 - Unique ability to align passions for impact
8:42 - Designing brand pillars and guiding principles - Community - Sustainability - Inclusivity
9:34 - Highlighting diverse local makers, especially in rural areas
10:14 -Sticking to brand pillars requires really tough decisions
11:29 - Trusting in the community to support the values of the business
12:51 - Can you be driven by your values or is it all about what the market wants?
13:25 - Sourcing from larger networks and Inspiring new creators, new makers, and new businesses
16:10 - Leaving her job and transitioning full time into The Occasional Collective
18:30- Juggling solo business ownership, full-time work, and healthy living
19:43 - Give yourself grace and start hiring things out to build the business
20:25 - What would it take to leave my job
20:51 - Getting buy-in from everyone with the idea of The Occasional Collective
21:32 - The right time for a boutique shop and the culture shift toward local shopping
22:24 - The Walmart effect and Amazon
23:33 - Our competitive edge is the customer service and locally sourced items
24:14 - Inspiring makers with feedback from customers
25:35 - Rural areas need community hubs like the shop to survive
27:00 - You need to secure a domain for your business
29:35 - What if you fail? What's the plan?
31:58 - Vetting your ideas and being open to the cold hard truth
36:41 - Finding the right people to review a business plan
38:11 - Have to enjoy risk
38:33- Pitch competitions, TS Bank REV pitch
41:55 - Buying and reselling items
45:50 - Utilize ALL the small business resources and get real feedback on your business plan (scroll below for links to resources)
50:00 - Shifting your mindset for owning a business
51:52 - Utilizing Tandem Works resources (The Social Engagement Method)
52:00 - Improving social media to focus on stories
55:07 - What is on the horizon and how to support The Occasional Collective
If you love this show, please leave us a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/ridingtandem and follow the simple instructions.
2:40 - What you will find in The Occasional Collective - a cozy mix of all things local
3:24 - Saw a building for sale, and Alysia knew she had to do something awesome with it
4:42 - An article about a local meat producer inspired her idea
5:33 - Working at the zoo shaped her mindset for conservation that influenced her idea further
6:00 - Sustainability has always been a priority, and the store inspires behavior change in her small-town community
7:46 - Everything is coming full circle for supporting conservation
8:07 - Unique ability to align passions for impact
8:42 - Designing brand pillars and guiding principles - Community - Sustainability - Inclusivity
9:34 - Highlighting diverse local makers, especially in rural areas
10:14 -Sticking to brand pillars requires really tough decisions
11:29 - Trusting in the community to support the values of the business
12:51 - Can you be driven by your values or is it all about what the market wants?
13:25 - Sourcing from larger networks and Inspiring new creators, new makers, and new businesses
16:10 - Leaving her job and transitioning full time into The Occasional Collective
18:30- Juggling solo business ownership, full-time work, and healthy living
19:43 - Give yourself grace and start hiring things out to build the business
20:25 - What would it take to leave my job
20:51 - Getting buy-in from everyone with the idea of The Occasional Collective
21:32 - The right time for a boutique shop and the culture shift toward local shopping
22:24 - The Walmart effect and Amazon
23:33 - Our competitive edge is the customer service and locally sourced items
24:14 - Inspiring makers with feedback from customers
25:35 - Rural areas need community hubs like the shop to survive
27:00 - You need to secure a domain for your business
29:35 - What if you fail? What's the plan?
31:58 - Vetting your ideas and being open to the cold hard truth
36:41 - Finding the right people to review a business plan
38:11 - Have to enjoy risk
38:33- Pitch competitions, TS Bank REV pitch
41:55 - Buying and reselling items
45:50 - Utilize ALL the small business resources and get real feedback on your business plan (scroll below for links to resources)
50:00 - Shifting your mindset for owning a business
51:52 - Utilizing Tandem Works resources (The Social Engagement Method)
52:00 - Improving social media to focus on stories
55:07 - What is on the horizon and how to support The Occasional Collective
If you love this show, please leave us a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/ridingtandem and follow the simple instructions.
Reach out! Send your feedback and comments. What would you like to hear about on this podcast? Email me at ridingtandem@thetandemworks.com
Vivian Kvam:
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/viviankvam/
- Email Vivian - vkvam@thetandemworks.com
GUEST: Alysia Hess
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theoccasionalcollective
- Website -https://www.theoccasionalcollectiveia.com/
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/@theoccasionalcollective/
- Email - theoccasionalcollective.ia@gmail.com
Tandem Works Team:
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TandemWorksTeam
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetandemworks/
- Email the team: RidingTandem@thetandemworks.com
FREE RESOURCES
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- Advanced Southwest Iowa
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- Pottawattamie Community Foundation
- Nebraska Enterprise Fund
Riding Tandem with Vivian Kvam
A podcast from Tandem Works
Email the team: RidingTandem@thetandemworks.com
