Finding the key partners to work with can make or break your venture. After thousands of conversations with aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s one of the most common obstacles and risks holding folks back from pursuing their idea. So – we asked some of the smartest, most resourceful entrepreneurs in the community to share their lessons and insights to help inspire and educate the next great set of entrepreneurs.

Katie Reinhart

At Refound, we consider our sellers the heart of what we do. They’re a mix of local small businesses —like vintage dealers and refinishers who give old pieces a new lease on life—and everyday people who have a quality piece they’re ready to pass along from their home. Read more>>

Julie Labruna

My most reliable method for establishing vendor relationships involves visiting furniture markets. There are four major furniture markets held twice a year, with the largest taking place in High Point, NC. These markets are exclusive to trade professionals, and historically, the majority of attendees were retail buyers, but now more than 60% are interior designers. Read more>>

Terry Thomsen

Food plays a crucial role in today’s manufacturing world. When I began developing our product, we initially had no idea who to approach as a supplier. The first step was to decide on the type of flour to use, which took time since we were unfamiliar with the various types and what would work best for the desired end result. Additionally, we needed to find a supplier willing to provide samples. As a startup, we didn’t have many orders or customers, making it challenging to find supportive suppliers. They often wanted to know our projected volumes. We discovered that approaching flour manufacturers directly was more beneficial than working with distributors, as they were more helpful and offered many educational classes about their products.classes on their product. Read more>>

Skyler Jones

When choosing to partner with small family-owned farms over larger farms, several key points highlight the advantages of this approach for our buisness.

1. **Quality Control**: Small family-owned farms often maintain a more hands-on approach to their coffee production. This intimate involvement allows them to monitor every step of the process, from planting to harvesting, ensuring that each bean meets their high standards. The smaller scale enables them to focus on quality over quantity, often leading to superior flavor profiles and more consistent quality in their coffee. Read more>>