You Can't Amazon Community | The Business Beat | Episode 45

In this episode of Business Beat, hosts Janelle Smith and Diane Samples sit down with Kris Ward, owner of Sunshine and Sage, a boho-inspired boutique in downtown Howell that blends retail with mindfulness, joy, and community connection. Kris shares her journey from a corporate career rooted in innovation and risk-taking to taking a leap on herself as an entrepreneur. She discusses the realities of building a small business—from the loneliness of entrepreneurship to the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and community support. The conversation dives into how Kris has intentionally designed her shop as more than just a retail space—creating an experience where customers can relax, connect, and find meaningful moments. She also reflects on her experience pitching her business in a competitive entrepreneurship program, emphasizing the value of “small moments that matter” in a world often focused on scale. This episode highlights the evolving role of small businesses in creating community, the power of local collaboration, and why meaningful, in-person experiences still matter in a digital world. 00:00 Introduction to Kris Ward and Sunshine & Sage 01:00 Defining entrepreneurship and Kris’s background 02:30 Taking the leap from corporate to business ownership 03:50 Branding Sunshine & Sage and creating a “vibe” 05:20 Challenges of entrepreneurship (loneliness, risk, decision-making) 07:30 Mentorship and chamber-supported resources 10:30 Collaboration and building a downtown business ecosystem 12:30 Innovation in retail (bracelet bar, hours, experiences) 15:00 Experience-driven retail vs. transactional shopping 17:30 Emotional impact of the space and customer connections 19:30 Entrepreneurship pitch competition experience 23:00 “Small moments that matter” philosophy 25:30 Supporting other small businesses 28:30 Final reflections on community and entrepreneurship Thank you to the sponsors of this episode: Lake Trust - https://laketrust.org/ Brighton Ford - https://www.brightonford.com/ Northstar IT - https://www.brightonford.com/   Stay connected Show Links - Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/howellchamber Instagram-  https://www.instagram.com/howellareachamber/ LinkedIn -   linkedin.com/company/howellchamber     YouTube-    https://www.youtube.com/@howellchamber Website- https://howell.org/  Guest Links -  Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/sunshineandsagehowell Instagram-  https://www.instagram.com/sunshineandsagehowell LinkedIn -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisnasiatka/ Website- https://www.sunshineandsageshop.com/