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Specialty and Local Retail Stores Handling Crisis with Amy Saldanha

Making Waves at C-Level

Release Date: 03/26/2020

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Making Waves at C-Level

The Founder of Bloom Mary Jane is Scott McDowell better known as Strategic Scott on social media. He is a Maryland native who relocated to Colorado in 2016 after spending almost a decade in NYC working in the music industry. Upon arrival in Colorado Scott launched Strategic Leverage, LLC a boutique marketing agency. Strategic Leverage has a very niche focus on vendor booth immersive activations, event sponsorships, VIP product placement, and content creation.

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Making Waves at C-Level

Amanda Sizemore is the owner at Twin Flame Tea. She founded the company almost two years ago. The idea came to her one afternoon walking through a farmer’s market with her significant other. She was craving an organic iced tea with real herbs. A tea with beautiful hand blended leaves, not the fanning’s you usually find at the grocery store. This craving led to her curiosity of starting what she didn’t know would become an amazing adventure.

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Making Waves at C-Level

In this episode of "Making Waves at C-Level" we hear from Dr. Ivan Misner.  He is the founder of BNI and a very smart man who has built a large company and helped many other people find success through the connections they make in business.

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Making Waves at C-Level

Episode 629 is an interview with Jon Kazarian, CEO and Founder of Accelevents.  He has a great story of growing Accelevents during the pandemic and shares a lot advice for business leaders on how to pivot and grow.

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Making Waves at C-Level

Episode 628 looks at how small and mid-sized companies can grow through acquisition like the big companies.  In this conversation, Ryan Snow shares his experience in helping entrepreneurs scale their companies. 

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Making Waves at C-Level

In this episode of "Making Waves at C-Level" the conversation goes deep into marketing, culture, growth-hacks, etc...   Scott Martin is an expert in branding, marketing, and strategy.  He shares his insights in this candid conversation with Making Waves host, Thom Singer.

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Making Waves at C-Level

Thom Singer sits down with Ray Abram to talk about networking, career advancement, human connection, and success in this episode of "Making Waves at C-Level".

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Making Waves at C-Level

This episode was originally recorded for the "Webinar Talk Show".  The conversation is a powerful chat and Thom Singer knew he had to share it here with the "Making Waves at C-Level".

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Making Waves at C-Level

In this episode we talk with the co-founder of one of the first Cannabis Dispensary Franchise companies.  The Open Dor is a new company that is helping Cannabis Entrepreneurs open up stores across several states, and reduce the first time business owner mistakes.  Will Chelsea Mulligan become the Ray Kroc of Cannabis?  Maybe.  

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Making Waves at C-Level

This episode was originally recorded for the "Digital Enterprise Society Podcast".  It is an interview with Gerry O'Brion from What Big Brands Know.  Gerry is a friend of Thom Singer's and and expert in marketing strategy for companies of all sizes.  

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More Episodes
As we all deal with the impact of COVID-19 and "Social Distancing", retail stores are heavily impacted.  In many cities and states non-essential stores are having to close their doors and look for creative ways to survive.  In this episode Thom Singer has an in-depth conversation with Amy Saldanha, the owner of kiddywampus, a specialty toy store in Minneapolis, MN.  Amy is also the incoming chair for the American Specialty Toy Store Association (ASTRA).
 
In this podcast they discuss the realities of running a small locally focused retail store in good times and in challenging times.  They share their thoughts and ideas about how all business people can get creative and work together to thrive in the future. 
 
About Amy Saldanha 
 
Amy Saldanha is founder and CEO of kiddywampus, a specialty toy retailer and destination for families in the Twin Cities. She is also the incoming Chair to the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association. Prior to founding and running kiddywampus in 2006, Amy practiced law as a civil litigator in Chicago, followed by stints in operations and talent management at several digital start-ups. Amy graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a bachelor's degree in political science and speech communications. She also holds a social sciences degree in political philosophy from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. She earned her JD from Valparaiso School of Law. Amy also serves on the Board of Trustees at The Blake School, and the Boards of ResourceWest and Hopkins Business & Civic Association. She and her husband, Kenneth, have three children, all of whom are active at kiddywampus. 
 
About ASTRA
 
Founded in 1992, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is an international not-for-profit trade organization that serves more than 1,800 independent retailers, manufacturers and sales representatives of the specialty toy industry. ASTRA is a dedicated community of professionals committed to providing children with healthy, quality play materials that have high play value. ASTRA members build their businesses around specialty toys, which are designed with a focus on what the child can do, rather than what the toy can do. ASTRA members are leaders who have a positive influence the economy, culture and creativity of the communities they serve.
 
ASTRA provides members with access to networking, education, discounts, business products and services to assist our members as they grow their businesses. ASTRA Academy, which houses our education and training resources, was established to provide ASTRA members with on-demand access to up-to-the-minute training in an ever-changing industry. Marketplace & Academy is a four-day trade show and education conference featuring industry leaders and hands-on product demonstrations. The conference draws more than 450 exhibits and includes more than 30 hours of education.
 
A volunteer board of 14 retailers, manufacturers and sales representatives governs the associations.