Your first business might not work out but it can show you how to build a better one.

After years in hospitality and teaching cocktail classes to thousands of people, April Wachtel saw a gap: people wanted bar-quality drinks at home, but didn’t always have the time, tools, or ingredients to make them.

So she launched Swig and Swallow – a cocktail batching and delivery business that didn’t quite work and eventually evolved into Cheeky Cocktails, a nationwide brand creating bar-quality syrups and juices for home bartenders.

In this episode, April breaks down how she turned a failed manufacturing run into a full brand reset, relaunched during COVID, and used Amazon programs like Vine and FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) to build trust, increase revenue, and grow smarter.

If you’ve ever had to rebuild, or start again – this episode is for you.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Thisissmallbusiness

In this episode of This Is Small Business, you’ll learn:

(01:26) — How to turn your experience into a business idea

(03:21) — Andrea tries Cheeky Cocktails

(04:17) — How a struggling business pivoted into a smarter business model

(07:06) — How a product reset turned into a growth opportunity

(11:12) — The hard truth about building a business

(14:49) — What’s Next for Cheeky Cocktails

What would you give up to build something bigger than yourself?

After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Reubens Amedee left his successful finance career to build a school on his grandfather’s land. But keeping that dream alive meant finding a sustainable way to fund it. That’s how Papa Rozier Farms was born – a beauty brand built from Haitian grown castor and moringa, family legacy, and a mission to create jobs back home.

In this episode, Reubens shares what it really takes to leave comfort behind for impact and how Amazon helped the brand reach new customers.

If you’ve ever wondered how purpose and business can grow together, this episode is for you.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Thisissmallbusiness

In this episode of This Is Small Business, you’ll learn:

(01:12) — How a relief trip to Haiti changed Reubens’ entire career path

(05:01) — How to build a business from what you already have

(08:59) — How to use Amazon to reach more customers

(10:27) — How to know when it’s time to leave your stable job

(14:53) — How a business can create real community impact

What if your biggest competitive advantage is your story?

When Akruti Babaria couldn’t find tools to help her son connect with his Indian heritage, she turned that gap into a business. What started as selling curated children’s books quickly evolved into Kulture Khazana – a brand built on storytelling, cultural connection, and community.

In this episode, she breaks down how she validated demand through programming, pivoted during COVID by launching her first product, and used Amazon to scale – from leveraging influencer trust to unlocking rapid growth through the Amazon’s Choice badge.

If you want to turn your story into a real competitive advantage and build a brand customers actually connect with – this episode is for you.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Thisissmallbusiness

In this episode of This Is Small Business, you’ll learn:

(01:22) — How Akruti found her purpose after a life-changing moment.

(06:06) — How to use storytelling to grow your brand and community

(08:35) — How Amazon influencers can help drive product sales

(09:29) — What “Amazon’s Choice” means for your business and how it impacts sales

(10:50) — How to turn your culture into a competitive advantage

(12:10) — How to keep going when you feel like quitting your business.