Small Business, Big Lessons

Small Business, Big Lessons is a new podcast from Buffer that goes behind the scenes with inspirational small businesses who are truly driving innovation and redefining how work happens.

How These Small Business Owners Learned To Let Go

In order to grow their companies, these entrepreneurs learned to let go of outdated beliefs that no longer served themselves or their businesses.

FlowNov 8, 2022
How These Small Businesses Stand Up For What They Believe In

These small business owners use their platforms to speak up about deserving causes and have incorporated elements into their businesses to help make a difference.

FlowNov 1, 2022
Why Small Business Owners Need Support Systems, With Examples From 6 Small Business Owners

In Small Business, Big Lessons, season two, episode six, we detail how the owners of Harlow, SparkToro, Made With Local, Zingerman’s, Destination Unknown Restaurants and Paynter Jackets approach getting support as small business owners.

FlowOct 25, 2022
How These Small Businesses are Growing Their Impact

These small businesses may be limited in size, but they're still making a huge impact in their communities through initiatives and policies they've baked into their companies.

FlowOct 18, 2022
How These Small Businesses Are Growing Sustainably

How do you know when to say ‘yes’ to opportunities for growth and ‘no’ to the things that will lead you from your path? In this article, business owners share stories about their growth and offer practical advice about retaining their identity while building their future.

FlowOct 17, 2022
Why these Small Businesses are Intentionally Staying Small

Small businesses don’t have to grow in size to make a difference. We’ll share why, sometimes, thinking small can lead to the biggest dividends.

FlowOct 12, 2022
Why these Small Businesses are Turning Down Big Money

Raising money is something on every entrepreneur's mind, but we spoke to four small business owners who've pursued alternative models of funding and say that was the right choice for them.

FlowOct 11, 2022
How These Small Businesses Cultivate Community

Community is at the center of many impactful small businesses. But how do you cultivate a flourishing community that grows with and supports your business? In this article, small business owners share the insights and lessons they’ve learned from creating communities.

FlowOct 11, 2022
Introducing Season 2 of Small Business, Big Lessons — a Buffer Original Series

We encounter a lot of incredible small businesses regularly at Buffer. Last year, we had the chance to highlight eight of them in season one of a new Buffer original series — Small Business, Big Lessons. We’re happy to share that the series is back! So start listening to Small Business, Big Lessons Season 2 wherever you get your podcasts. We’ll release a new episode every Tuesday for the next six weeks. Listen to Small Business, Big Lessons: Season 2 In this series, we’re bringing you busines

Why Damian Fagon Wants More Black People to Become Cannabis Farmers

Damian shares his journey from hemp farmer, to teacher, to business accelerator leader, and the economics behind why he focuses so hard on encouraging people to become hemp farmers.

FlowDec 14, 2021
Inside Sabai Design’s Sustainability Approach to Building a Business

It’s hard to overstate the importance of furniture in our lives. We literally live our life on furniture, yet often don’t realize the impact our chosen furnishings have on the planet in terms of chemicals, greenhouse gasses, and material waste. Phantila Phataraprasit learned about sustainability early in life and wanted to build the kind of sustainable brand she’d be proud to shop at, so she decided to do something about it and co-founded Sabai Design , a sustainable fur

FlowDec 7, 2021
Why Zingerman’s Teaches All Employees About Cash Flow, Revenue, Depreciation, and Expense Management

Featuring insights from Buffer’s Small Business, Big Lessons podcast episode six and the accompanying unpublished interview, Zingerman’s co-founder Ari Weinzweig shared the company’s founding story and how open book management unlocked new scaling opportunities for the company.

Why Wildbit’s Belief that Businesses are Imaginary Could Become the Future of Work

Featuring insights from Buffer’s Small Business, Big Lessons podcast episode five, and the accompanying unpublished interview, Natalie shared Wildbit’s journey from a growth-focused business machine to a company that’s excited to find ways to work less.

What Employee Ownership Means for Trident Cafe and Booksellers

Featuring insights from Buffer’s Small Business, Big Lessons podcast episode four, and the accompanying unpublished interview, multiple employee-owners of the Trident shared why the bookstore moved to employee ownership and how the shift positively impacted the business.

The Motivation that Led Paynter Jacket Co to Build in Public

Before they ever made a single jacket, Paynter Jacket Co. founders Becky Okell and Huw Thomas talked about iconic jackets on Instagram. To their followers, it was a community to talk about all things jackets. To Becky and Huw, it was product development research. But to the startup world, it’s simply called “building in public.” Originally driven by passion, building in public became Paynter’s recipe for success: By the time the duo launched the first Paynter jac

How Chocolate Saved Shawn Askinosie

Featuring insights from Buffer’s Small Business, Big Lessons podcast episode one, and the accompanying unpublished interview, Shawn explained how chocolate saved his life - and how he’s using his chocolate business to help others thrive as well.