In this episode, guest-host Johnny Gwin talks with Tommy Wetjen about how he built Gamers N Geeks, the Gulf Coast's largest gaming store specializing in card games, board games, dice games, miniatures, and video games. Tommy also shares how he has grown his business by creating an economic ecosystem with collaborators and like-minded merchants and vendors, making a unique experience that encourages all ages and types of gamers to feel welcome.

Plus, Tommy spills the beans on purchasing, relaunching, and reinventing the CWL, the Combat Wrestling League, that will bring local wrestling back to the Gulf Coast.

In this episode, guest host Johnny Gwin talks with Scotty White about how he takes another step in building his business empire of Geekdom with his new Scotty's Toy Shop specializing in action figures and other pop culture collectibles. Scotty is not just an entrepreneur, podcaster, and comic book creator; he is now an action figure curator, doctor, and bounty hunter to find "that special toy that someone wants from their childhood memories and will bring them happiness."

Cheers to Scotty White; he is creating revenue from doing something that he loves and is building a loyal and engaged community around his new toy shop, Scotty's Toy Shop.

Check Out Gamers & Geeks

Listen to EP107: Just Make The Thing with Scotty White

Scotty's Jedi Lessons On Starting A Retail Business

- Do your research. Know what you are getting into with a brick and mortar or online retail store and understand the market trends, opportunities, and challenges before you go "all in"

- Build your network. Reach out to similar and successful business owners in the market that you want to start selling.

- Start small. Before investing capital and time with a store, start selling from your collection to test the proof of concept for your store and products.

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Learn More About Karen Simmons & CFO Consulting

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

CFO Consulting Services

Business owners and employees leave money on the table year after year by not having the right retirement plan in place. In this episode, Karen talks with the Mobile, Alabama employer, employee, and personal retirement plan TPA specialist Crystal Sears of Azalea Administration. Crystal explains all the options employers and employees now have with 401(k) and other retirement plans and how to get started saving for your future. Plus, learn why setting up an employee plan is one of the best ways to hire, motivate, and keep your best team members and top producers.

{Editor's Note: this is a rebroadcast of a past episode. Karen is taking the week off the show to spend time with her family for the Fourth of July holiday.}

Learn more about Crystal Sears and Azalea Administration.

Key Takeaways:

1. A 401(k) plan is it's a way to save money, but you're saving it for yourself.
2. Employee retirement plans for your help you find, motivate and keep your best employees.
3. Hire a qualified third-party administrator to set up and manage your company's retirement plans.
4. Cheap index funds won't cost you a lot of money, but they won't make you any money either.
5. Start the retirement plan process with your CPA, Accounting Department, or your HR department.
6. Find the right TPA specialist to administer your retirement plans.

Learn More About Karen Simmons & CFO Consulting

Karen C. Simmons, P.C.

CFO Consulting Services

On this episode, Karen talks with Trey Byrum, owner of the Alabama Pipe Welders Academy and Scottsman Tools in Mobile, Alabama, about the importance of learning a trade, creating a product, having faith, and giving back to your community. Trey details how his welding school started from chaos and tragedy into something magical from very humble beginnings. Plus, he will tell us what it is like to share the TV screen with Billy Bones on the National Geographic Channel.

Key Takeaways

- Learning a trade is transformative for the individual and plays a vital role in all communities.

- Sometimes moving forward in life starts with stepping back and having to overcome big obstacles.

- Making "giving back to your community" a part of your business model is rewarding and can be a big asset in motivating yourself and your team.

See Trey on National Geographic's Breaking Bobby Bones

Alabama Pipe Welders Academy
Learn more here.

Scottsman Tools
Learn more here.

The most valuable resource for any business is their customers, and while new customers are essential, acquiring new ones can cost as much as 7 times more than retaining a customer you already have. On this episode, guest host Johnny Gwin talks with the co-host of The Insurance Guys podcast and owner of Portal Insurance, the incomparable Bradley Flowers. Bradley delivers real-world stories, insights and essential tools for keeping your best customers to make sure your business survives and thrives.

Check out Bradley on The Insurance Guys Podcast

Bradley Flowers Steps For Customer Retention

• Evaluate your clients and identify your VIP customers.
• Calculate the lifetime value of your customers.
• Determine what keeps your customers coming back.
• Find and use essential CMR tools, automation, and processes.
• Automate but keep the human touch.
  Train your team to buy into the "love your customer" mindset.
• Manage customer expectations and overdeliver.
• Keep listening to your clients.
• Communicate with your clients in the way that they prefer.
• Satisfy, surprise & connect with your customers.

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Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at DocRx.com.

On this episode, guest host Johnny Gwin talks with singer/songwriter, music producer, session guitarist, and professional music businessman Eric Erdman about creating a career where he is the brand, product, factory, and the skilled labor. Eric demystifies the rock star mythos with tales of hard work, serious practicing, endless touring, and power networking to be able to travel the world entertaining thousands as his songs and talent. Plus, Eric shares his love of the talented musicians and unique musical sound of his hometown of Mobile, Alabama.

Get To Know Eric Erdman Music 
Follow Eric on Spotify
Hear Eric on Youtube

Key Takeaways

The music business is ever-changing with changing audience tastes to disruptive technology and isn't always glamourous.

Practice, practice, practice, and learn to be multifaceted and flexible with your skills and abilities.

Succeeding in the music business is not just practicing your craft but also putting sound business fundamentals into practice.

Be yourself, but don't ignore the trends and realities of your market, industry, and business environment.

Grow your industry network to increase your employment and learning opportunities.


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Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at DocRx.com.

Everyone is talking about Bitcoin, Ethereum, Doge Coin, and alt-coins. What the heck is this mass hype, and are you missing out if you are already not in "crypto"? On this episode, guest host Johnny Gwin talks with Mobile's serial entrepreneur, Scott Tindle, about why he has jumped headfirst into crypto and blockchain technology, the quickest way to get started in crypto, and his tips on trading bitcoin and crypto. Plus, Johnny and Scott run down all of the weird crypto jargon you are bound to hear over the next few years.

Start Trading Crypto! Open Your Coinbase Account Here
Use this link to open your Coinbase account, and you and Johnny will both get a $10 bonus.


Key Takeaways

Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology is an exciting, new, and expansive industry that has already touched most people's lives.

The first place most people start with crypto is to open a Coinbase.com account.

Bitcoin and Ethereum and the most well-known digital monetary asset, but there are thousands of cryptocurrencies and tokens.

Don't just invest in hype, do your research and understand the details and fundamentals about the crypto projects you are looking to trade.

Crypto markets are highly volatile, and all your principal capital can be lost.

Learn disciplined and be patient with crypto trading, and do not fall into FOMO.

This episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.

Resources

CryptoWendyO Youtube Channel 

Bad Crypto Podcast

Coinstats App

Into The Block

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Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at DocRx.com.

In this episode, Karen talks with the bold and dynamic Bridgette Jerkins of Royal Barbers located in Mobile, Alabama. She explains her unique style of training and guiding her customers' behaviors and expectations to benefit their experience and her bottom line. Bridgette also shares her experiences, challenges, and successes as a young businesswoman in a world dominated by male barbers and patrons. And lastly, Karen and Bridgette talk about the joy and headaches of working with their amazing daughters. This show is filled with 100s of laughs, tons of knowledge, and two amazing and strong women. Enjoy the show!

Key Takeaways

Know your customers, location, and needs to customize a sensbile work schedule and profitable operation.

Strive to create more than a business and service to your customers. Building a community around who and what you do.

Learn to create a culture around your business that connects customers to your business and to you as an entrepreneur.

Be comfortable being bold, demanding, assertive, and discerning with your business.

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Learn More About DocRX

DocRx is a family-oriented company dedicated to tailor operational solutions for patient health and compliance programs that increases the quality and efficiency of patient-centered care and always with the mission of the patient's health 1st. With over ten years of experience helping doctors and their patients with diagnostic testing, patient monitoring, medical supplies, compliance, wholesale pharmacy, physician dispensing billing, and more.

DocRx is your patient and health compliance solution, both under one roof. To find out how DocRx can help your hospital, pharmacy, or physicians office see all their services at DocRx.com.