How a Struggling Company Became a Cultural Hotbed Overnight (....Literally)
As CEO of Lion Brand, a family-owned yarn company in New Jersey, David Blumenthal was doing all he can just to ensure that the company got by. Then, Vanna White disclosed her love for knitting on a late night talk show. Now, Blumenthal is at the helm of the industry leader for what has evolved from an antiquated hobby to a cultural phenomenon that many other celebrities have since “fessed up” to. He tells his story to “The American Entrepreneur” Ron Morris. Plus, it’s been said that luck plays a critical role in business, and nobody knows that better than Frank Venegas, founder and CEO of the Ideal Group, a Detroit-based construction services company. Frank joins Ron to tell the story of how a lucky auction ticket at a charity dinner led to the capital necessary to start his company, and the remarkable success he has since enjoyed as one of the the preeminent Hispanic entrepreneurs in the country. And Dave Speer of Batteries Plus joins Ron to discuss a company that serves its niche thoroughly and effectively, in selling batteries of all shapes and sizes.
Segments
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Ron’s Rant: Of International Communication Gaps and “Snow Chickens”
“The American Entrepreneur” Ron Morris rants about some of the communication issues he finds when dealing with international students, and the bigger problems these issues can lead to down the road, plus his thoughts on “snow chickens”, people in the workplace who fret about looming snowstorms, and the drop in productivity they experience as a result.
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Getting a Charge Out of Business: Dave Speer and Batteries Plus
“The American Entrepreneur” Ron Morris talks with Dave Speer, the Western Pennsylvania owner of the Batteries Plus franchise, about the multiple uses of batteries, and how he has become successful with such a ubiquitous niche.
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(1) Tradtional Business Model + (1) Pop Culture Phenomenon = Lion Brand Yarn
“The American Entrepreneur” Ron Morris talks with David Blumenthal of Lion Brand Yarn, a New York City-based fourth-generation family-owned yarn and knitting supply business that continues to capitalize on the recent trend in knitting among females, including the notable celebrities (Vanna White, Sara Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz) who have “fessed up” to being knitters in their spare time.
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Open Talk on American Entrepreneur Radio
“The American Entrepreneur” Ron Morris engages in open talk, discussing how life moves faster in New York City, as well as how lapses in interpersonal communication can be a real deal-breaker for businesses of any size and any setting.
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Don’t Think Luck Can Play a Role in Business? Listen to Frank Venegas of the Ideal Group
“The American Entrepreneur” Ron Morris talks with Frank Venegas, Founder and CEO of the Ideal Group, a Detroit-based company that covers a variety of services in the construction and automobile industries, as well as one of the most successful Hispanic entrepreneurs in America, about his remarkable story, the lucky break that got him the startup capital he needed, and his plans to continue to revitalize the business climate in the Detroit area.
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What Did We Learn From Frank Venegas? That a Positive Attitude Makes a Difference!
“The American Entrepreneur” Ron Morris reflects on his interview with Frank Venegas of the Ideal Group, talking about the importance of having a positive attitude as you run your business, and as you live your life, and how attitude can carry you a long way.
Full Episode
No transcript is available for this episode.
