In “Small Starts,” our hosts Emilie Gonzalez and Elizabeth Dedos discuss the hardships of running a small business in a post-pandemic environment. During the COVID-19 crisis, many people laid off from work turned to starting their own companies from the ground up for an income, taking an already competitive market to new extremes.
To make matters worse, the rise in popularity for platforms such as Amazon, Temu, TikTok Shop and more that promote convenience over quality led to smaller businesses working harder than ever before to stay in the game.
Interviewing two small businesses, we learn the difficulty to maintain stability. This includes gaining exposure needed for these businesses to become more well-known, as well as being engaged with their current consumers. Listening to their struggles encourages us to shop small.
Episode 1: Sama Construction
In episode 1, Gonzalez interviews Ray Alvarez, the owner of Sama Construction. The general contractor speaks on the struggles of being overworked, having inconsistent jobs and pay, and dealing with opposition in the field.
Episode 2: Which? Craft.
In episode 2, Dedos interviews Liz Fraga, owner of “Which? Craft”. She speaks on struggles of finding success in an environment oversaturated with other small shops creating crafts similar to the ones that she creates.
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