Main Street Business Insights

The Art of Understanding Local Markets

In the last episode of season two of Main Street Business Insights, tune in as host Matt Wagner breaks down how to understand and synthesize local market data. 
While market understanding can feel daunting, it’s not only a purely data-driven exercise. While data plays a crucial role, effective market analysis goes beyond just crunching numbers. It's a blend of science and art, requiring a deep understanding of your community, its needs, key drivers, and the broader context of how it functions as a place where consumers, visitors, locals and small businesses and organizations converge. 
In the episode, Matt explains his philosophy for market analysis, how to transform data interpretation into effective strategy, and the importance of local contexts.  
Further Reading: IRS Migration Data | Esri Data Mapping | Placer.ai

Creating Strong Start-up Communities with Glen Ellis, Sycamore Education and Milady Coffeehouse

"In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Glen Ellis, owner of Sycamore Education, Dominion Catalyst Services, and Milady Coffeehouse in Fremont, Nebraska.  
Glen started his career working in programming and software development for international corporations, but after around 20 years, was feeling unfulfilled with the work. From there, he started volunteering at his children's school, and learned the school system’s management software had problems to be addressed. He rewrote the program, named it Sycamore Education, and began implementing it in other schools. After two years, Glen and his wife decided to take a leap of faith and take on Sycamore Education full-time.  
The first few years of business ownership were challenging for Glen and his family – but through hard work and trial and error, they began hiring employees and gaining new clients. After getting through the initial start-up phase, Glen gained a newfound passion for supporting other entrepreneurs.  
“My desire was not only keeping my company going, but also giving back to what we went through and doing it better than we did,” said Glen. Out of this desire, Glen purchased a historic building in downtown Fremont with the goal of converting it into a business incubator space. On the first floor, they started Milady Coffeehouse to attract community and provide a space for discussion and creativity. The second floor houses a suite of affordable office spaces available for entrepreneurs to launch their ideas. 
In their conversation, Matt and Glen discuss the importance of creating community, ways to support other entrepreneurs, why he chose to launch his businesses in a small community, and more. 
Further Reading: Sycamore Education | Milady Coffeehouse | Fremont Main Street | Nebraska Main Street Network "

Forming Meaningful Partnerships with Shoalwater Seafood and Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe

In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Derek King and Jaime Courtney of Shoalwater Seafood, and Shane Thomas, Tribal Council Vice Chair of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe. Located in Tokeland, Washington, Shoalwater Seafood grows oysters using a system that can stand up to the strong winds, rising sea levels, and difficult weather of the Hood Canal. In 2018, Shoalwater Seafood and the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe formed a working relationship that has led to the creation of an independent oyster nursery, beginning the development and certification of several hundred acres of Tidelands owned by the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe. 
The Shoalwater Bay Indian Reservation is a participating organization in Main Street America’s USDOT Thriving Communities program. Through the program, we are working with local community leaders to develop an increased awareness of Federal opportunities, prepare community leaders to implement infrastructure and community development projects, and build lasting local capacity for carrying out projects. Given the partnership, the group discusses how transportation and logistics impact Shoalwater Seafood’s business given the remoteness of their location to tourists and markets. 
In the episode, the group discusses the partnership between Shoalwater Seafood and Shoalwater Bay Indian tribe, their journey to oyster farming, insights on being a tribal enterprise, how tribal culture and values are reflected in the business, ways climate change has impacted the business, and more. 
Further Reading: Shoalwater Seafood | Washington State Main Street Program | Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe | USDOT Thriving Communities Program

How Main Street Leaders Can Drive Economic Development with Casey Woods, Emporia Main Street

In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Casey Woods, Executive Director of Emporia Main Street in Emporia, Kansas. 
In their conversation, they discuss how Casey’s journey to becoming a Main Street director, his focus on entrepreneurship, how he creates new opportunities for local business owners, and how other Main Street leaders can drive economic development in their communities. 
Further Reading: Emporia Main Street | Emporia Main Street Fab Lab | Kansas Main Street

Continuously Improving & Adapting to Change with Nicole Fleetwood and McKinzie Hodges, Scratch Made Bakery

In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Nicole Fleetwood and McKinzie Hodges, co-owners of Scratch Made Bakery in Amarillo, Texas. Scratch Made Bakery was selected to be featured on the podcast through a nomination from Beth Duke, Executive Director of Center City of Amarillo, an Accredited Main Street organization. 
 
Nicole Fleetwood opened the bakery in 2012 on historic Route 66 in downtown Amarillo. She came to Amarillo with her family soon after she had won an episode of Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. Since that time, she added her bakery partner, McKinzie Hodges. Together, Nicole and McKinzie have had to pivot the business several times: When the cupcake craze peaked, they started selling macarons, cookies, and decorated cakes. In 2016, they added a brunch menu to grow their business. In the years since, they pivoted away from offering brunch items to focus more on what they love: providing baked goods and decorated cakes to their community. 
 
In their conversation, they discuss Nicole and McKinzie’s path to entrepreneurship, how they support one another, and ways they’ve had to adapt to unexpected changes.

Creating Accessible and Welcoming Spaces with Tiffany Fixter, Brewability

In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Tiffany Fixter, owner of Brewability, an inclusive craft brewery and pizzeria that employs adults with disabilities based in Englewood, Colorado. Brewability was also awarded a Backing Small Businesses grant in 2023 through American Express and Main Street America.  
As a former special education teacher, Tiffany has a heart for creating welcoming, inclusive, and fully accessible spaces for people with disabilities. Coupled with a passion for wanting to make a difference in her local community and a strong work ethic, she developed the concept for Brewability back in 2016 with the intention of providing employment opportunities and a welcoming gathering space for those with disabilities and the community as a whole. 
In their conversation, they discuss Tiffany’s path to entrepreneurship, how the Backing Small Businesses grant funding has impacted the business and community, and her advice for how all business owners can create more accessible and welcoming spaces.  

Why Retail Real Estate Matters with Bobby Boone, &Access

In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Bobby Boone, founder and Chief Strategist of &Access. Based in New Orleans, &Access creates data-driven and design-centric retail real estate solutions for historically excluded entrepreneurs and under-invested neighborhoods. 
Bobby has a strong background in economic development and real estate. Prior to founding &Access, Bobby led an effort to attract and maintain small businesses in Detroit and tackled wide-ranging retail challenges as a senior strategist at Streetsense. 
In this conversation, they discuss how retail can be a key economic development driver, ways small businesses add social capital to communities, challenges facing retailers and the solutions offered by &Access. They touch on anti-displacement solutions for business owners, how digital commerce is impacting local retailers, and how business owners can acquire properties in ways that meet their own unique goals. 

Breaking Into a New Community with Jennifer Jones, Good Times Coal Fired Pizza & Pub

In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Jennifer Jones, co-owner of Good Times Coal Fired Pizza and Pub in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Located in historic Big Stone Gap Main Street, Good Times is a coal-fired pizzeria and pub, music venue, and community gathering place. In the heart of Appalachian coal country, the coal-fired pizzeria also nods to the area’s unique heritage and geography. 
Jennifer and her husband Brian purchased the business from the previous owner in 2021, soon after relocating to Big Stone Gap from northern California. The move from California to Virginia had been a long-time dream of Jennifer’s, who has an affinity for the Appalachian Mountains, but landing in Big Stone Gap was largely due to coincidence. When Brian and Jennifer were visiting the area looking for a town to put down roots, they stopped in Big Stone Gap (at the very restaurant they would later own) for a bite to eat. They were met with such a welcoming atmosphere and kind people that they stopped their search then and there. “It was like Big Stone Gap was saying, ‘Pick us!’” said Jennifer. 
Brian and Jennifer have a background in entrepreneurship and were interested in starting or purchasing a business once they got settled. When the previous owner of Good Times announced they were selling, Brian and Jennifer jumped on the opportunity. Since taking over, they have completed a kitchen renovation, added community events, and more. 
In this conversation, they discuss why Jennifer and Brian chose to relocate to Big Stone Gap, their experience of owning a downtown business in a new community, and how they’ve grown and expanded the existing business into something unique to them. 

Embracing Digital and Demystifying AI with Janet Hurn, Future Ready Consulting

In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Janet Hurn, co-founder of Future Ready Consulting in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Future Ready Consulting is a technology-focused marketing consulting firm, specializing in supporting small business owners with digital skills. Janet was also one of 10 small business coaches who provided free training to small business owners in rural areas through Main Street America’s Grow with Google Digital Coaches program in 2023.  
In their conversation, they discuss Janet’s background as a physicist, and her path from the world of academia into entrepreneurship. Janet’s gift for making complicated subject matter understandable has helped her successfully bridge her professions: teaching university-level physics and coaching small business owners to use AI and other digital tools.  
Janet breaks down how small business owners can use technology to streamline and optimize their administrative processes and marketing efforts, the importance of continuing to adapt your marketing strategy, and simple ways business owners can use artificial intelligence to save time and money. 
Further Reading: Future Ready Consulting | Main Street Ohio | Main Street Digital Coaches | Grow with Google Training with Janet Hurn | Virtual Co-Working App, Focusmate

Coping with Isolation and Building Community with Derrick Braziel, MORTAR & Pata Roja Taqueria

In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Derrick Braziel, owner of Pata Roja Taqueria and co-founder of MORTAR, in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
In their conversation, they discuss Derrick’s origins as an entrepreneur, which began in 2014 with the launch of MORTAR, an organization that enables historically marginalized entrepreneurs to access the resources needed to start and run successful businesses.  
Out of his participation in a MORTAR program, Derrick was able to test out his own business idea: a taco truck. A decade later, Derrick’s food truck, Pata Roja Taqueria, is thriving – and he’s actively working towards setting up a brick-and-mortar restaurant expected to open this year. 
Matt and Derrick also discuss the rarely discussed but prevalent issues of burnout, isolation, and loneliness facing many business owners, and how Derrick has learned to cope, adapt, and learn from his own experiences with them.  
Further Reading: Pata Roja Taqueria | MORTAR | Main Street Ohio |