The Small Business School Podcast
Ready to leave the small business struggle behind? The “School for Small Business” podcast supports small business owners in scaling a business that is profitable, purposeful, and doesn’t leave you burnt out. No matter whether you run your business online or you own a brick-and-mortar, you can expect our world class experts to support you with mindset, tactics, and everything in between so you can have the business you dreamed of. Based on our lived experience, we know that small business CAN be easy and we are here to show you how.The “School for Small Business” is hosted by Staci Millard, a CPA by trade with over 15 years of experience seeing the behind the scenes of thousands of small businesses. After growing and selling her first 7 figure business, Staci has been on the ground running - mentoring small businesses and working to increase success rates. Staci strongly believes you don’t need to have gone to business school to be successful so you can expect nothing but simple, impactful advice. Tune in each Tuesday for a new 30 minute or less episode of nothing but valuable advice to help you grow your small business. We are so excited for you to be on this journey with us!
The Small Business School Podcast
From Preserves to Profits: A Founder’s Journey with Christine Manning
Ever wonder what it really takes to build a successful product-based business? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Christine Manning—Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) founder, consultant, and mindset coach—who built a thriving food brand from scratch, scaled it into major retailers, and eventually sold the business. She shares the messy middle, mindset shifts, and what most makers get wrong when growing a product-based brand. This one is full of golden takeaways!
Key topics covered:
- Christine’s accidental start in entrepreneurship and how preserves turned into a full-blown CPG business
- The reality of low margins and why scaling is not optional in food-based businesses
- What most entrepreneurs get wrong about branding—and how to actually stand out on the shelf
- The mental shifts and mindset work Christine did to prepare for a business exit
- How burnout shaped her decision-making and why slowing down created more clarity
- Tips on building a sellable business (even if you’re not ready to sell yet)
Mentioned in this episode: Find your entrepreneurial soulmates. Join the exclusive community of Canadian women entrepreneurs. Imagine finding your Work Wives™ who share the same bold, ambitious, entrepreneurial goals.
Connect with Christine:
- Instagram: @the.christinemanning
Staci's Links:
Instagram. Website.
The School for Small Business Podcast is a proud member of the Female Alliance Media.
To learn more about Female Alliance Media and how they are elevating female voices or how they can support your show, visit femalealliancemedia.ca.
Head over to my website https://www.stacimillard.com/ to grab your FREE copy of my Profit Playbook and receive 30 innovative ways you can add more profit to your business AND the first step towards implementing these ideas in your business!
