U.S. Bank’s Post

Culture + Capacity at its best.

There is something UNIQUELY special about our newest partnership, allow me to tell you about it! We started our business 2 years ago with nothing but a dream, a plan to achieve that dream (all layed out in steps) and an unusual sense of optimism! We started with no BIG Loan, NO Investors, and were even labeled "neurotic" by family members and former employees, after all we left our Full-Time Restaurant General Management positions to invest all money we had, what little we had, into PURSUING OUR PASSION! We have grown to since win an International Flavor Award, be featured in numerous small shops and eateries including but not limited to @themixingbowl_315 , @sgtpeppersetc , @epicusesyr , and even @off_the_muck_market . Last month a kind woman named Laura reached out to us to inquire about wholesale pricing as she is opening a NEW Grocery Store in Groton, NY and will have fresh prepared food to boot! Her neighbor had met us at an event we worked in which they purchased our Hot sauce and ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Upon further communication with Laura we learned that not only will she be carrying our Hot sauces at her grocery store but will be preparing meals with said sauces! Her grocery store is named, The Good Neighbor Grocery! Something tells me those restaurant Gallon Jugs we have been considering coming out with may be offered sooner rather than later! So the point here is, IF YOU HAVE A DREAM, A PASSION, A GOAL.... Pursue it! Invest in that dream, believe in yourself, stop at NOTHING! Share that post, BOOK That Show! Because YOU TOO never know when you may meet, "The Good Neighbor" @thegoodneighborgrocery #entrepreneurmindset #entrepreneurship #shareyourstory #HotSauceOnEverything #earthquakespices

Have you read our story yet about Schnuck Markets, Inc. and their first cohort of diverse small businesses coming into the stores? It was a front page news story for our September 2024 issue, and you can also view it through the link here: https://lnkd.in/gZYY8Q_K

My wife (Luann Abrams) and I are franchise owners of a Ben & Jerry's for four primary reasons: 1. Ice cream makes people across all socioeconomics and demographics happy and the world can use a lot more happiness 2. We want our kids, their friends, and other young people in the community to be involved in and understand the services industry and be able to make money (note: one of our managers makes more money scooping ice cream than he did as a video journalist at one of the local news stations, but that doesn't mean - with cost of living - it's necessarily enough...and it's a more complex & complicated issue). 3. We appreciate the authenticity, the brand, the purpose, the model and the mission of Ben & Jerry's (3 interrelated parts): 👉Product: to make, distribute & sell the finest quality all natural ice cream & euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients & promoting business practices that respect the Earth & the Environment. 👉Economic: To operate the Company on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders & expanding opportunities for development & career growth for our employees. 👉Social: To operate the Company in a way that recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally, & internationally. 4. We want to make money...no we're not socialists, communists, and many other names I saw in the comments section of the The Wall Street Journal article here. NOTE: this doesn't mean we agree with every stance they take (hell, I don't agree with every stance I take and my wife certainly doesn't agree with me much of the time), but it does mean we agree with the model, the mission, the intention, and the authenticity for which the brand works towards every day and, importantly, for which local owners across the country / world work towards in their own communities and in their own ways. That authenticity, combined with mission, is often missing today in zero sum models, short-term incentives / thinking, and the world in which we live. At the end of the day for Ben & Jerry's, it is fundamentally about so many small and local community members / business owners working towards the three legs of that stool (product, economic, social) for what matters in THEIR local communities and who are trying to, ultimately, bring happiness through ice cream to their communities. It is about folks trying to do the right things to make things better in their local areas. That isn't "woke" (hell, I don't even know what that means) and perhaps it more broadly can be thought of as just being a human being trying to make things a bit better and, like all human beings, being fallible through this journey of life. https://lnkd.in/ggPhz2gr

When the big deals dry up, Wall Street adjusts and digs deeper into the middle market. The headline story over the last few years is the significant decrease in funding and deal activity - particularly in the earlier stage VC and the later stage PE mega-deals. However, deals in the middle-market space have remained surprisingly robust, as detailed in this The Wall Street Journal article. From the story: "Middle-market deals made up a record 74% of private-equity buyouts by count in 2023, outpacing the previous high of nearly 72% set in 2019, according to PitchBook." It's important to remember that success in every industry comes down to the strength of relationships. Finance is no different. The upside to the big banks of getting involved with smaller companies is the opportunity to build those banking relationships earlier in the business maturation process. Without question those relationships will bear fruit down the road for the banks as those companies grow. Endeavor Colorado #privateequity #venturecapital #investing #innovation #entrepreneurship #Founders #startups #finance https://lnkd.in/gkqmUnRU

I'm sure you've seen the recent viral interview with the founder of #ArizonaIcedTea. If not here it is https://lnkd.in/g9rScgmx. It really struck a chord with me when he said, “We’re successful. We’re debt-free. We own everything.” It reminded me of Joey Ferry, BSN, RN and I. Honestly, we’re not chasing the myth of endless #growth and profits. We can’t live up to those unrealistic standards. We’re all about making decisions that are right for us even if it's a 0 sum or initial net loss. Seeing the #founder of a major brand speak as he did helps reinforce the path we are on our right path. We recently made significant changes to #SafeSeizure—switching to eco-friendly material, a taller design, and faster inflation—without raising prices for our hospital partners. By "owning everything and being debt-free" at the moment, we can focus on what really matters— rapid innovation "why not explore that" attitude and customer value. With higher interest rates, investment money isn’t flowing like it used to. This makes it even more important to get your financial ducks in a row and bet on yourself for a while. Go at your own pace and accept the pros and cons that come with that; we have. Before anyone misinterprets this...of course, not all venture capital is bad. We've heard success stories. Like any relationship, it’s important to make sure your values align and not to rush into it. There are a lot of VC start up stories and we went to shine a light on the other side. 😊🙏🏿

𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭... 𝐓𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐜𝐲?! 😲 Yes, the brand that turned food storage into a cultural icon, now faces over $1.2 billion in debt and has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. How did the company that once hosted millions of kitchen parties and made food preservation cool end up on the brink of collapse? 🛑 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠? Tupperware, once a symbol of convenience and innovation, seemed unstoppable. But with the rise of new competitors, evolving consumer habits, and the shift to digital-first markets, it appears the brand couldn’t keep pace. Despite its attempt to transform into a modern, digital-driven company, the old favorite found itself struggling to stay relevant in a world that demands constant reinvention. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫: We still trust Tupperware to keep our food fresh, right? Those colorful, reliable containers are probably in your kitchen right now. 🥡 Yet, could it be that the brand that fed generations is finally closing its lid for good? 🌟 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐫𝐚? Or is Tupperware hiding one last trick up its sleeve? In a world where nostalgia meets innovation, Tupperware could still surprise us. 🤔 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤? Could this iconic brand stage a comeback or is this the final chapter in its legendary story? Let's chat! #business #entrepreneur #branding #corporate

When you ask for a seat at the table, don’t whine about how full your plate gets. This is what you signed up for. 🎯 You wanted to build, to grow, to disrupt—did you really think it would be comfortable? The price of ambition isn’t cheap, and there’s no refund policy. Complaining about the workload is like a chef complaining about too many orders. You either rise to the occasion or get out of the kitchen. Bottom line? Success is messy, chaotic, and absolutely worth it. Bring a fork, bring an appetite, and let’s keep the table set for those who aren’t afraid to feast. #AllIn #SkinInTheGame #EntrepreneursOnly #BuiltNotBought #HungryToWin

Incredibly proud of my entrepreneur eldest son as he executes a major move and expansion of his business! #specialtycoffee #smallbusiness Check out the exciting news here: [Link to Article]

Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread, credits his success to an unusual strategy: conducting what he calls a "pre-mortem." This involves visualizing his own obituary or achievements at the end of his life, typically between Christmas and his birthday. By doing so, Shaich gains clarity on his long-term goals and the steps needed to achieve them. This approach helps him avoid procrastination and focus on meaningful accomplishments rather than mere financial gains. Shaich's strategy has guided him through notable successes, including transforming Panera into a national chain and later selling it for billions. His current wealth, now over $1.6 billion, reflects the strategy's impact beyond financial gains, emphasizing personal and professional fulfillment. Would you be willing to try this? Read More Here: https://lnkd.in/erfbQzyx Fortune Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez Branded Hospitality Ventures #hospitality #CEO #innovation #technology Gregg Waterman Drayton Martin Beth Ringer Jose Alberto Duenas CAVA Tatte Bakery & Cafe Life Alive Café Brett Schulman Tzurit Or Bryan Timko Act III Holdings, LLC Keith Pascal