Unpacking this episode min by min:1:21 - Introduction to Alysia Hess and The Occasional Collective 2:40 - What you will find in The Occasional Collective - a cozy mix of all things local 3:24 - Saw a building for sale, and Alysia knew she had to do something awesome with it4:42 - An article about a local meat producer inspired her idea5:33 - Working at the zoo shaped her mindset for conservation that influenced her idea further 6:00 - Sustainability has always been a priority, and the store inspires behavior change in her small-town community 7:46 - Everything is coming full circle for supporting conservation 8:07 - Unique ability to align passions for impact 8:42 - Designing brand pillars and guiding principles - Community - Sustainability - Inclusivity  9:34 - Highlighting diverse local makers, especially in rural areas10:14 -Sticking to brand pillars requires really tough decisions11:29 - Trusting in the community to support the values of the business12:51 - Can you be driven by your values or is it all about what the market wants?13:25 - Sourcing from larger networks and Inspiring new creators, new makers, and new businesses 16:10 - Leaving her job and transitioning full time into The Occasional Collective18:30- Juggling solo business ownership, full-time work, and healthy living 19:43 - Give yourself grace and start hiring things out to build the business20:25 - What would it take to leave my job20:51 - Getting buy-in from everyone with the idea of The Occasional Collective 21:32 - The right time for a boutique shop and the culture shift toward local shopping 22:24 - The Walmart effect and Amazon 23:33 - Our competitive edge is the customer service and locally sourced items24:14 - Inspiring makers with feedback from customers 25:35 - Rural areas need community hubs like the shop to survive 27:00 - You need to secure a domain for your business29:35 - What if you fail? What's the plan?31:58 - Vetting your ideas and being open to the cold hard truth 36:41 - Finding the right people to review a business plan38:11 - Have to enjoy risk 38:33- Pitch competitions, TS Bank REV pitch 41:55 - Buying and reselling items 45:50 - Utilize ALL the small business resources and get real feedback on your business plan  (scroll below for links to resources) 50:00 - Shifting your mindset for owning a business 51:52 - Utilizing Tandem Works resources (The Social Engagement Method) 52:00 - Improving social media to focus on stories 55:07 - What is on the horizon and how to support The Occasional Collective If you love this show, please leave us a review. Go to RateThisPodcast.com/ridingtandem and follow the simple instructions.Reach out! Send your feedback and comments. What would you like to hear about on this podcast? Email me at [email protected] Vivian Kvam:LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/viviankvam/Email Vivian - [email protected] GUEST: Alysia HessFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/theoccasionalcollectiveWebsite -https://www.theoccasionalcollectiveia.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/@theoccasionalcollective/Email - [email protected] Works Team:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TandemWorksTeamInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetandemworks/Email the team: [email protected] FREE RESOURCES Tandem Works Circle for Marketing, Facebook Group all about marketing for small biz ownersJoin our weekly email HERE for Next-level advice, a little accountability, and out-of-the-box ideas delivered to your inboxSBDCAdvanced Southwest IowaTS Bank REVPottawattamie Community FoundationNebraska Enterprise FundRiding Tandem with Vivian KvamA podcast from Tandem WorksEmail the team: [email protected] 

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