Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Today's guest is Sherry Kubalsky, a children's book author in Des Moines, Iowa.

If you're curious about being a children's book author, learn a little more from Sherry and connect with her using the links below!

1. Tell us a little about yourself!

I was raised in rural Iowa and proud to be a farmer’s daughter. Of course my first book had to have animals in it! A windmill is my signature and is at the back of each book on the about the author page. I don’t like to point direction to myself as I desire the focus to be on the book and it’s mission but I am a retired hospice social worker. Degrees (bachelor’s & master’s) from UNI so I am a forever faithful UNI PANTHER fan!! My husband has been a huge help - I have to mention that as well as friends who supported me when I...

Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Today's guest is Merenciana (Meddy) Paulus, owner of Black Collar CrossFit, a CrossFit gym in Des Moines, Iowa.

Our favorite piece of advice: "You can't and won't please everyone." Truth. There are going to be people who think you should operate your business differently or give you advice that's well intended but wrong for you and you have to know when to listen and when to tune it out. You are the one building your business so, at the end of the day, you have to make decisions that align with who you are and where you want your business to go.

If you're curious about starting your own gym, learn a little more from Meddy and connect with her using the links below!

1. What do you own and why did you start this business?

I own a CrossFit gym located in Downtown Des Moines. I made my decision to...

Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Today's guest is Ashley Long, co-owner, along with her husband, of The Prelude, a wedding venue in New Virginia, Iowa.

Our favorite piece of advice: "Dream big and start small." You need both. You need those big dreams to spur you forward in tough moments and keep you hoping for a future you're working towards. But you also have to start small and keep taking small steps forward each day to be able to reach those big dreams.

If you're curious about starting a wedding venue, learn a little more from Ashley and connect with her using the links below!

1. What do you own and why did you start this business?

The Prelude was dreamed up by my husband, Nathanael, and I who craved a feeling we had only experienced in far off lands and story books - Nathanael and I knew there were others out there who...

Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Our favorite piece of advice: "Ask for help." Simple but sometimes the hardest thing to do. You can't be an expert at everything. As local business owners, we often get used to knowing a little about a lot and most of the time, that lets us get by. But there are times when you need to call in for reinforcements (QuickBooks help anyone?) to make sure the need is filled correctly. Don't be afraid to lean on others!

If you're curious about becoming an author, learn a little more from Jeff and connect using the links below!

1. What do you own and why did you start this business?

The “business” I own is my first book, Waking the Shadows, which I...

Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Today's guest is David Downing, co-founder of ChipMonk Baking, a specialty food manufacturing and product business in Houston, Texas.

Our favorite piece of advice: "Remember the 80/20 rule and listen to your top customers." Shout it from the rooftops, David! At Love Local we inherently believe that a majority of your business will come from repeat customers and just like David shares in his advice, you've got to nurture and appreciate those customers to build up raving fans. One customer raving about your product to a friend goes so much further than your single social media post promoting your product ever could. Invest in your customers. You won't regret it.

If you're curious about starting your own specialty food business, learn a little more from David and connect with him...

Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Our favorite piece of advice: "Take feedback seriously, but not personally." That's gold. Information can be a great tool to help you build your business but that doesn't mean that you need to act on every piece of advice given to you, no matter how well intended. You know your business best so trust your instincts and ability to discern whether or not to take someone else's advice. 

If you're curious about starting a career coaching and freelance writing business, learn a little more from Aleenah and connect using the links below!

1. What do you own and why did you start this business?

My name is Aleenah Ansari, and I’m a...

Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Today's guest is Emma Hicks, owner of Camp Climb and expert at bringing together creatives in community, both virtually and in person.

Our favorite piece of advice: "Find a community where you feel a deep sense of belonging." It can be a lot when you shoulder the weight of everything on your own. Having a group of people that you can lean on for support in both the highs and lows is crucial to thriving in entrepreneurship.

If you're curious about starting a virtual and in-person community for creatives, learn a little more from Emma and connect using the links below!

1. What do you own and why did you start this business?

Camp Climb; I was craving deeper connection with other female creative entrepreneurs forging new paths and a deep desire to bring our differences around the table and find unity in...

Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Today's guest is Flannery Buchanan owner of Bluebird Bookstop, a mobile bookshop set up in a vintage camper in Crozet, Virginia.

Our favorite piece of advice: "Stay flexible." Structure is a valuable tool in business but too much rigidity can cause you to lose out on new opportunities that come up. Flannery has it right when she says you've got to be open to following new doors. You never know where they might lead you!

If you're curious about starting a mobile bookshop, learn a little more from Flannery and connect with her using the links below!

1. What do you own and why did you start this business?

I own a mobile bookshop operating out of a vintage camper. I started this business because as a former librarian and avid reader, I've always enjoyed reading and connecting with people...

Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Today's guest is Yamel Belen from One Love Doula Services, a business offering holistic postpartum services in Tampa, Florida. 

Our favorite piece of advice: "Be well educated." This is especially relevant for those in fields like medicine or wellness but truly could apply to anyone. Even if you don't have a degree specific to your industry, you can still seek out education and best practices from a variety of resources. Enhancing your knowledge through learning can only help you serve your clients & customers even better.

1. What do you own and why did you start this business?

I own a doula collective business. I'm a registered nurse, you don't have to be one to become a doula, but I've found many of our clients love that about my practice. I've always loved pregnancy, labor, birth,...

Welcome to our So You Wanna Start A... series, designed to give you a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the journeys that went into creating some of your favorite local brands.

Today's guest is Chelsa Smith from Bread By Chelsa B, a microbakery in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Our favorite piece of advice: "Be brave, ask for what you want, and say thank you." You'll never know unless you ask and there are so many willing souls out there who would offer up their help if you'd just ask. Be gracious and open to learning and your business can move so much further.

If you're curious about starting a microbakery, learn a little more from Chelsa and connect with her using the links below!

1. What do you own and why did you start this business?

I own a microbakery and everything is made in my home. I specialize in artisan sourdough bread, so I make any type of sourdough bread you can think of. Everything is naturally leavened with a sourdough starter, so there's no commercial yeast in...