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Talking Purpose: The Purpose and Profit Business Podcast
Welcome to Talking Purpose, the podcast. I'm your host, Katie Boothby-Kung, a sustainability expert who has worked with thousands of brands to help them find sustainable and profitable solutions for their company. Talking Purpose is a podcast for small and medium sized businesses looking to build sustainable brands that make an impact. But branding isn't just about some key messages and a flashy logo. Brand runs deep and if you are creating a sustainable business, these values should be ingrained in every part of your company. From operations, culture and hiring through to how you communicate and tell your story. In some of the teasers, you heard from from experts who join me to share their tips, tricks and hot takes on sustainable brand building so you can create a business that’s good for people, the planet and your profits too! Check it out!
Talking Purpose: The Purpose and Profit Business Podcast
Building Community Abundance: Monica Grunick on Creating a Million-Dollar Retail Business
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Welcome back to Talking Purpose!
What does it take to build a business that creates abundance for everyone—not just the founder? In this episode, I sit down with Monica Grunick, co-founder of love, Pittsburgh, a gift shop that supports over 100 Pittsburgh-based artists and makers across three brick-and-mortar locations.
Monica and her business partner Kelly started with a simple wish in 2016: a place where you knew you were shopping local. Eight years later, they've just hit their first million-dollar year while staying true to that original mission. Recently named one of Pittsburgh Magazine's 2025 Women in Business, Monica shares the unglamorous truth about retail, how they survived COVID, and why sticking with something is the most underrated business strategy.
What We Cover:
- The real story behind choosing brick-and-mortar over e-commerce
- How they hit $1M in sales after 8 years (and why it took that long)
- Surviving COVID as a physical retailer
- Why community abundance creates business abundance
- Monica's advice for anyone dreaming of opening a shop
- Building her second brand, love,, with lessons learned
"I think the longer you can stick with something, the better the chance of your success. Just give it a try. Ask for help. People will help you. Don't be afraid." - Monica Grunick
Resources:
- love, Pittsburgh: lovepittsburghshop.com | @lovepittsburghshop
- love,: lovestores.co | @lovestoresco
Guest Bio: Monica Grunick is co-founder of love, Pittsburgh and founder of love,. Named one of Pittsburgh Magazine's 2025 Women in Business, Monica is a visionary entrepreneur who has designed a life overflowing with purpose and joy. She believes that living with integrity unlocks a universe of abundance.
Subscribe to Talking Purpose for more conversations with purpose-driven entrepreneurs who are building businesses that matter.
Learn more about starting and scaling a for-purpose business at www.talkingpurpose.ca
Start your business today on the best e-commerce platform in the world on Shopify
Learn more about starting and scaling a for-purpose business at www.talkingpurpose.ca
Start your business today on the best e-commerce platform in the world on Shopify
