Step into the exciting world of entrepreneurship with This Is Small Business! Join us on an adventure as we dive deep into the riveting tales of triumph and tenacity of small business owners. This Is Small Business speaks with business owners from all over as they go through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and we uncover the secret sauce behind building a thriving business. Tune in to hear from a dynamic array of guests, each with their own captivating backgrounds and unique perspectives that epitomize the spirit of small business entrepreneurship. Get ready to be inspired, motivated, and empowered to chase your own entrepreneurial dreams and start your next venture!
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an avid fan of the Buy It Now show, "Behind the Buy" offers behind-the-scenes stories that will inspire you to take the next step in your own business journey. From the intense preparation to the thrill of winning, we explore every angle of what it takes to pitch, win, and build a thriving business. Discover how each Buy It Now winner plans to use their prize to scale their business and how you can apply these lessons to your own entrepreneurial path.

Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video. 


In the season finale of This is Small Business: Behind the Buy, we follow Derek Tillotson, founder of Haven Tents, and his journey from world traveler to entrepreneur. His game-changing hammock blends the comfort of a bed with the freedom of camping. What started as a family adventure evolved into a crowdfunding success! You can watch Haven Tent's episode on the Buy it Now show titled: The Panel Find Their Haven in the Woods.  Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video. In this episode you’ll discover: (2:03) Derek shares how a family adventure sparked the idea for Haven Tents, starting with a simple desire to improve outdoor sleeping. (7:15) How a Facebook video seeking a travel nanny unexpectedly went viral, giving Derek his first taste of public attention and setting the stage for his entrepreneurial journey. (12:45) We learn about the challenges he faced while developing the hammock prototype, including design failures and early setbacks that tested his resolve. (18:30) How Derek successfully crowdfunded his product, turning early skepticism into financial backing that made production possible. (22:10) Tensions rise as Derek pitches his hammock on Buy It Now, with a humorous mishap when one of the judges accidentally falls.

This Is Small Business: Behind the Buy

Sleeping Under the Stars with Haven Tents

Meet Kerry Cooke and her daughter Kat, the founders of Spleash—a multi-functional dog leash holder that hydrates, cools, and cleans your pet on the go. Kerry and Kat share the emotional journey behind their product, born from a need to care for their own dogs during tough times. They reveal the challenges they faced, from sketching the first design to overcoming manufacturing hurdles, and how they finally made it onto the Buy It Now show. You can watch Spleash's episode on the Buy it Now show titled: Jamie Gets Buff. Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video. In this episode you’ll discover:  (0:00) Kerry and Kat were motivated by a genuine need to care for their dogs and give back to the pet community. Their product isn't just practical—it reflects their mission to make a difference. (6:07) Kerry and Kat faced multiple setbacks during the creation of Spleash, including leaks in the first batch and the complexities of manufacturing. Their perseverance and willingness to go back to the drawing board were key to overcoming these challenges. (11:56) The mother-daughter duo rehearsed their pitch relentlessly, practicing in everyday moments until they had it down perfectly. This preparation paid off when they stepped in front of the live audience. (15:49) The judges' feedback, including Tony Hawk’s comments and Jamie Siminoff’s praise for the design, highlighted how important it is to listen to constructive criticism and make necessary adjustments. (19:59) Kerry and Kat’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is clear: don’t let fear of failure hold you back. They emphasize the importance of pushing forward with belief in your idea, no matter how difficult the road may be.

From Leash to Spleash: How a Mother-Daughter Duo Redefined Pet Care

Tiffany Gil, the CEO and inventor behind Shezza Socks, creates foam-padded socks designed to prevent blisters. Tiffany's journey to entrepreneurship started as a high schooler struggling with painful blisters from new shoes. After years of refining her idea and overcoming challenges—like securing funding by winning a cross-country lawnmower race—Tiffany's product went viral on TikTok. This led Tiffany to pitch her brand on the Buy It Now show, where she impressed a panel of judges, including Jamie Siminoff (founder of Ring) and celebrity entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow. You can watch Shezza Socks' episode on the Buy it Now show titled: The Panel Get Grilled.  Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video.  In this episode you’ll discover:  (0:07) How Tiffany solved a personal problem. Tiffany created Shezza Socks after struggling with painful blisters from new shoes, turning a personal issue into a business idea.(5:55) Tiffany funded her business by winning a lawnmower race and entering pitch competitions, showing the value of persistence and resourcefulness.(7:59) How Tiffany leveraged social media to gain entrepreneurial recognition. A viral TikTok video helped Shezza Socks gain traction, demonstrating the power of social media for marketing.(14:10) The importance of valuing and embracing feedback. Tiffany received valuable feedback on her brand name from industry leaders, showing the importance of being open to criticism and adapting.

From Blisters to Breakthrough: Behind Shezza Socks' Viral Success

Meet Khadijah Robinson, the founder and CEO of Aqua Waterproof Headwear, a line of waterproof turbans and head wraps. Khadijah's journey began with a personal challenge: trying to protect her hair extensions while snorkelling on vacation. Frustrated by the lack of suitable products, she created her own solution—waterproof headwear that is both stylish and functional! Khadijah faced numerous setbacks, from struggling to find the right fabric to losing money when her first manufacturer went bankrupt. Her determination paid off when she found a supportive seamstress and, eventually, a new manufacturer. Eventually, Khadijah's product gained traction and, against the odds, she auditioned for the Buy It Now show on Prime Video earning her a spot on the Buy It Now Amazon store, along with a $20,000 cash prize. You can watch Aqua Waterproof Headwear's episode on the Buy it Now show titled: The Panel Get Confused - And They Like It.  Tune in and get inspired by the real stories behind the entrepreneurs and products featured on Buy It Now. You can find winning products on the Buy It Now Store. Follow TISB: Behind the Buy on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to watch Buy It Now on Prime Video.  In this episode you’ll learn: (03:14) Khadijah's idea for waterproof turbans and headwraps came from a frustrating personal experience while on vacation. She needed a way to keep her hair dry while snorkelling but struggled with the limitations of regular hats and shower caps. (04:19) Khadijah faced significant challenges in bringing her product to life, from struggling to find waterproof fabric to working through multiple prototypes. It took years of effort before she had a working design. (04:49) A chance encounter with a past acquaintance, Lele, a seamstress who had designed Khadijah’s prom dress, turned out to be pivotal. Lele helped Khadijah with fabric sourcing, prototypes, and navigating her first manufacturer meetings. (07:18) Even though Khadijah was confident in the demand for her product, she still conducted extensive market research by surveying friends and visiting hair stores to confirm the need for waterproof headwear.(07:46) Khadijah describes the overwhelming sense of gratitude when she made her product live and started receiving orders. It reaffirmed that her hard work was paying off, even though the process had been stressful and uncertain. (08:17) After her original manufacturer went bankrupt, Khadijah didn’t give up on her business. Instead, she used the setback as fuel to push harder and ultimately find a new, better manufacturer. (11:25) For the "Buy It Now" show, Khadijah practiced tirelessly to perfect her pitch. She used flashcards, rehearsed in front of a camera, and worked on her delivery to ensure she’d make a strong impression on the judges.(19:40) Winning the $20,000 prize not only boosted Khadijah’s confidence but also helped her expand her product line, restock inventory, and invest in broader marketing efforts, including reaching more diverse audiences.

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This Is Small Business by Amazon

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