Entrepreneur Conundrum

Guest: Fred Meyers, Founder & CEO of Queensboro
Links:
Website: www.queensboro.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queensboro/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queensborousa/

Episode page: https://entrepreneurconundrum.com/fredmeyers

In this episode:
(00:00) Intro — spotting a premium polo gap and building from scratch

(02:35) Why Queensboro is B2SMB (marketing-first vs. enterprise sales)

(04:14) The $4.95 first-order offer and trust-building guarantees

(06:07) Shipping realities: continental U.S. free shipping and reliability

(07:25) Lessons from economic turbulence & organizational vulnerabilities

(09:40) Why move HQ to Dallas—and what improved (talent & logistics)

(15:26) Expansion thinking (East, Texas/Midwest, West Coast next)

(16:06) “Great small company” > “bad big company” (and how to become great)

(18:35) A turning point: “We’re not doing better because we aren’t better.”

(19:38) The 4 P’s people framework: Principled, Positive, Proactive, Productive

(27:50) Brand basics: clear positioning → clear logo → clear expression

(30:24) Culture you can “hear”—why energy shows up in the box

(33:21) Best advice received: “Do what’s good for Freddie.”

(35:52) Best advice given: “Pray for a difficult life (and wife)” → growth & character

(37:58) Where to learn more & connect

Takeaways:
Trust is a growth lever: guarantees, clear policies, and reliability convert skeptics.

Hire for the 4 P’s; you can’t out-perform your lowest standard.

Be a great small company—scale comes after excellence.

Position → brand → logo → apparel: get the story straight, then amplify.

CTA: Start your first embroidered shirt for $4.95 and test the experience: www.queensboro.com
 

Key Questions

(01:07) All right, so how did you get to where you are today?

(01:52) You stayed focused?

(02:28) Who is your ideal It's a small, probably company. Do you sell more B2B or B2C?

(04:09) Do you have a minimum quantity that I need to order?

(07:13) You have been around for a while. You've been through lots of crazy things with the economy. What things did you learn? What tips do you have for it?

(11:32) When you were growing, was it hard to remove yourself from certain positions so that you weren't for bottleneck?

(15:58) Are there any other big goals that you're looking to achieve in the next couple of years?

(22:57) How did you get your company's name?

(26:39) What are some of your thoughts about helping others build their brand?

(30:57) What did you do to help you get through hard times or times that were rough?

(33:12) What's the best advice you've ever received?

(35:49) What's the best advice you've ever given?

(37:53) Where can we go to learn more about you and what you do?
 

Fred Meyers
www.queensboro.com
https://www.facebook.com/queensboro/
https://www.instagram.com/queensborousa/?hl=en

Virginia Purnell
Funnel & Visibility Specialist
Distinct Digital Marketing
(833) 762-5336
virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com
www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

Show Notes

• Prima’s pivot + origin — Moving from engineering and retail to online work; COVID as the “house on fire” moment that forced reinvention.
   
• “Best Kept Secret” diagnosis — It’s not lack of skill; it’s talking about what the market doesn’t urgently care about.
   
• House on Fire Marketing — Identify activation points (urgent, can’t-wait problems), show up with a “fire extinguisher,” then demonstrate and invite.
   
• Leads vs Buyers — Why “leads” can be someday/never; focus on buyer intent to shorten time-to-trust and time-to-cash.
   
• Conviction > tactics — Self-leadership, integrity, and inner work as the engine behind strategy.
   
• Seasons, silence, and signal — Reducing noise to hear divine guidance; living on your terms, not chasing balance myths.
   
• Revenue rhythm — Structuring offers (6–24 months) so $2K days come from today’s sales + tomorrow’s recurring.
   
• Resources
  
  
  • Guest: Facebook @primajope | IG @prima_jope | YT (link above) | the2kClientsystem.com
     
  • Show: entrepreneurconundrum.com/primajope
     
  • https://www.skool.com/theworldsbestkeptsecretorbit/about
     

Key Questions

(01:34) How did you get to be where you are today?

(11:12) Who is your ideal client?

(12:16)  How do you get in front of them?

(13:25) What are a couple of big goals that you have in the next year or two?

(14:05) You have mentioned before in other areas, you don't have a buyer problem, you have a buyer identification problem. Can you expand on that a little bit.

(23:02) So what do you do to make sure that you're in a quiet space or however, so that you can hear those little promptings?

(27:47) Do you feel like you have a really good work-life balance?

(30:28) What's the best advice that you have ever received?

(32:31) What's the best advice you've ever given?

(34:17) You have built a system that shows how to go from 2,000 to 2,000 per week to 2,000 per day without stress. So what makes it work when other marketing strategies?

(45:52) Where can we go to learn more about you and what you do?

Prima Jope

https://www.facebook.com/primajope

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0PQhPk4Hr1RNSXEC05ZdEQ

www.the2kClientsystem.com

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• How Cliff’s musical journey began at Berklee and led him to Los Angeles
   
• What being kicked off American Idol taught him about resilience
   
• The power of saying “yes” and following curiosity into new ventures
   
• Why Cliff believes health is the foundation for creative and business success
   
• His approach to work-life “integration” and getting more done with less stress
   
• The role of coaching, affirmations, and mindset in creating lasting change
   

Resources & Links from Today’s Episode:

• Website & Blog: sidehustleandflow.net
   
• Music: Stream “Cliff Beach” on all major platforms
   
• Book: Side Hustle and Flow (available in print & audiobook)
   
• Email: cliffe@sidehustleandflow.net
   
• Social: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter | Bluesky
   

Key Questions

(01:32) How did you end up where you are today?

(04:54) How did you stay upbeat with it?

(08:01) How was it for you? Do you have any tips for us with when you did change your mental state or being able to change those mental blocks that are holding us back?

(10:05)  How do you keep a work-life harmony?

(14:28) Do you work with people through that inspiring aspect, or is it more just through your books?

(18:35) Who are your ideal clients? Who's your ideal person to work with?

(19:59) What do you help? What do you coach people with or through? 

(21:06) How do you get in front of these people?

(22:12) What are some big goals that you have the next year or two?

(24:14) What's the best advice that you have ever received?

(25:50) What's the best advice you've ever given?

(27:07) Is there something that we haven't touched on yet that you would like to talk about?

(34:38) Where can we go to learn more about you and what you do?

Cliff Beach

Sidehustleandflow.net

Facebook.com/cliffbeachmusic

Instagram.com/cliffbeachmusic

Twitter.com/cliffbeachmusic

Bluesky.com/cliffbeachmusic

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Steve launched, scaled, and sold a successful advertising agency.
   
• Why consistency and persistence matter more than talent.
   
• The endurance athlete mindset and how it translates to business.
   
• The epidemic of loneliness — and how Loving Your Neighbor: A Practical Guide helps combat it.
   
• Why scaling isn’t for everyone (and why that’s okay).
   
• Steve’s best advice: it’s all about people.
   
• His most powerful tip: define your core values and live by them.

Resources & Links:

• Website: www.stevefales.com
   
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevenfales
   
• Facebook: facebook.com/steve.fales.18
   
• Books: Available via Amazon & website

Key Questions

(01:21) How did you end up being where you are today?

(03:17) When things got tough, how did you keep pushing forward and not just quitting?

(04:37) Do you take some of those principles and carry it forward in some of your races and triathlons and stuff like that to be easy as well?

(05:47) You have a few books. You're also a coach and mentor and stuff like that. Is that correct?

(07:26) How do you get in front of those people?

(09:28) What are a couple of big goals that you have in the next year?

(13:44) With all the things that you want to get done in your retirement with all your spare time, what do you feel like is a roadblock? What's your biggest roadblock?

(15:33) What is the best advice that you have ever received?

(16:55) What's the best advice you've ever given?

(18:36) We've touched on a few different topics today. Is there anything that we haven't talked about that we would like to?

(20:48) Where can we learn more about you and what you're up to?

Steve Fales

www.stevefales.com

LinkedIn -- https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenfales/

Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/steve.fales.18

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

Show notes (bullet style)

• Mike’s path from dentistry plans to pet franchising
• Scaling EarthWise Pet: 3 stores → 200+ units; 9 acquisitions; 51 corporate stores
• Ideal franchisee profile: passion, alignment, “in the trenches” grit, financial readiness
• Regionality & marketing: different buying habits, local ad spend, video & reviews
• Pet nutrition edge: 3-tier Dietitian certification; vet advisory council; AI dietitian for accessible guidance
• Total Pet Care plan (24 months): 250 stores, 150 mobile units, bi-coastal warehouses, e-com + DTC
• Mobile grooming & mobile nutrition pros; delivery tactics
• Culture shift: owner-operator → multi-unit; avoiding “weeds” thinking
• M&A realities: due diligence, fees, team acqui-hires, and bank/attorney orchestration
• Leadership & resilience: risk, failure as learning, anti-shame ethos for customers

Resources & Links

• Guest: Michael Seitz — LinkedIn
• EarthWise Pet (Franchising): https://www.EarthWisePetFranchise.com
• EarthWise Pet (AI Dietitian on homepage): https://www.EarthWisePet.com
• GroomBar: https://www.GROOMBAR.com

Key Questions

(01:37) How did you get to where you are today?

(04:30) Who would you say are your ideal clients?

(07:54) When you say pet store, are you more what would live inside my house

(08:28) If we have the nutrition side of it. Tell me a bit more about that one. That one I didn't think about. Is it like, My doctor said this, or is it just, Hey, my dog is old?

(11:30) With having the AI version of it, does that make it more accessible, even just financially for people, too?

(12:20) How do you get in front of your ideal people?

(14:46) Do you help your store owners with their digital marketing? Do you provide that for them or do you host it for them? How does that work?

(15:39) Do you give them training on the marketing side of it?

(16:09) What are some big goals that you have in the next year or two?

(18:25) What's involved in your mobile unit? Is that when someone comes to my house.

(19:13)  What do you think is the number one roadblock stopping you?

(21:35) What are some of your thoughts on entrepreneurship and franchising?

(24:13) How has your experience been with mergers.

(29:48) What's some of the best advice that you have ever received?

(33:00) What's the best advice that you've ever given?

(34:24) We have covered a lot of different things, but is there something that we haven't touched on that you want to?

(36:49) All right. Where can we go to learn more about you and what you do?

.

Michael Seitz

www.linkedin.com/in/michaelseitzceo

www.EarthWisePetFranchise.com

www.EarthWisePet.com

www.GROOMBAR.com

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

Today on Entrepreneur Conundrum, Virginia sits down with Doug Zarkin, brand leader, keynote speaker, and author of Moving Your Brand Out of the Friend Zone. Doug brings a wealth of experience from shaping powerhouse brands like Avon, Victoria’s Secret PINK, and Pearle Vision.

He shares:

• His journey from agency life to leading global consumer brands
   
• Why entrepreneurs should adopt a “think human” philosophy in marketing
   
• How to balance short-term revenue goals with long-term customer relationships
   
• The real purpose of marketing (and how to avoid alienating your audience)
   
• His best advice for overcoming roadblocks and moving forward

📘 Grab Doug’s book Moving Your Brand Out of the Friend Zone on Amazon.
🌐 Learn more at dougzarkin.com.
🔗 Connect with Doug on LinkedIn and follow @dougzarkin.

Key Questions

(01:34) How did you get to where you are today?

(02:39) Who would you say is your ideal client today?

(03:44) How do you get in front of those?

(04:24) You do posting on social media and stuff like that?

(04:45) You had talked about thinking human. What does that mean to you?

(06:13) What are some big goals that you have in the next year or two?

(06:43)  Do you do trainings or stuff like that to get better? 

(07:39) What do you feel is your number one roadblock?

(08:10) To you, what is the purpose of marketing?

(09:13) How do we move into those deeper relationships?

(09:59) What's the advice you have ever received?

(10:22) What's the best advice you've ever given?

(10:35) Is there anything that we haven't talked about that you would like to?

(11:30) Where can we learn more about you and what you do?

Doug Zarkin

www.dougzarkin.com

@dougzarkin

Linkedin.com/in/dougzarkin

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

In this episode of Entrepreneur Conundrum, Virginia welcomes Becky Freemal, Emmy Award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and founder of The Market Exec. Becky shares her journey from broadcast journalism to fractional CMO, and why effective storytelling is the key to sustainable business growth.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Becky’s transition from journalism to entrepreneurship
  
   
• How evidence-based storytelling drives results
  
   
• Why brand voice is essential for consistency and trust
  
   
• The role of curiosity in leadership and business growth
  
   
• Becky’s vision for speaking, leadership, and helping entrepreneurs
  
   

📖 Learn more about Becky:
Website: beckyfreemal.com
Company: themarketexec.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/beckyfreemal
Instagram: @beckyfreemal
Facebook: @Beckyfreemal

🎧 Listen now → entrepreneurconundrum.com/beckyfreemal

Becky Freemal

https://www.beckyfreemal.com/

https://themarketexec.com/

https://www.instagram.com/beckyfreemal

https://www.facebook.com/@Beckyfreemal

https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckyfreemal/

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

Episode: SEO Without the Mystery: Nick Musica’s Straightforward Approach to Getting Found Online
Guest: Nick Musica, Founder of Optics In SEO Agency

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Nick transitioned from publishing to SEO — before even knowing what SEO was
• Lessons learned from early SEO vendor experiences
• The “3+1” formula that drives sustainable search rankings
• Why multiple versions of your site could be killing your SEO
• Common pitfalls that businesses face and how to dig out of the “funk”
• The role of networking, referrals, and in-person connections in finding clients
• Balancing technical SEO with content strategy and off-page authority
   

Connect with Nick:

• Website: https://opticsin.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmusica/

Listen to the episode here: https://entrepreneurconundrum.com/nickmusica

Key Questions 

(01:01) How did you get to where you are today?

(05:52) So now, how do you fulfill your following your interest aspect?

(10:49) Who are your ideal clients?

(12:11) How do you get in front of said client?

(12:44) Are you part of the local chamber or BNI group?

(14:31) Do you do posts on social media and use that very often as well?

(15:10) What are some big goals that you have in the next year or two?

(17:25) Do you feel like you have a roadblock for reaching that goal?

(17:39) What's the best advice that you have ever received?

(20:11) What's the best advice you've ever given?

(21:42) Do you focus on like, backlinks and different stuff like that?

(22:47) Is there something that you wanted to talk about, but we haven't covered yet?

(25:15) Where can we go to learn more about you and what you do?

Nick Musica

https://opticsin.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickmusica/

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

In this episode, Virginia talks with Diane Wyzga, founder of Quarter Moon Story Arts and creator of the Stories from Women Who Walk podcast. Diane helps women clarify their vision and amplify their voices through storytelling, coaching them to uncover words they didn’t know they had.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• Diane’s journey from Navy nurse to lawyer, litigation consultant, and storytelling coach.
• How she helps women find their authentic voices and share their stories with courage.
• Why consequences are fact-neutral and how reframing them can set you free.
• The power of resilience: “Fall down seven, get up eight.”
• Tips on building confidence through self-expression and storytelling.

Connect with Diane:

• Website: quartermoonstoryarts.net
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diane-f-wyzga-qmsa
• Podcast: Stories from Women Who Walk
• Substack: Wyzga on Words

Connect with Virginia:

• Instagram | Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn

entrepreneurconundrum.com/dianewyzga