Petite Keep’s Shark Tank Success I Lindsay Mullenger I AO 51

What really happens after Shark Tank?

In this episode of American Operator, we sit down with Lindsay Mullenger, founder of Petite Keep, to break down her journey from building a product-driven business to landing a deal on Shark Tank — and what success actually looks like once the cameras turn off.

Lindsay shares the behind-the-scenes reality of Shark Tank, the pressure of pitching on national television, and how she’s navigated growth, manufacturing, and brand integrity while scaling a consumer product business.

This conversation covers:
- How Petite Keep started and why the product resonated
- The real Shark Tank experience (before, during, and after the pitch)
- What founders get wrong about “overnight success”
- Scaling a product-based business without losing control… And doing it in the Midwest.
- Lessons in resilience, leadership, and decision-making
- What ownership really means when the stakes get bigger

This episode isn’t just about Shark Tank — it’s about building something real, being customer obsessed, staying grounded through growth, and learning how to operate when momentum finally shows up.

If you’re a founder, aspiring entrepreneur, or curious about what it truly takes to turn an idea into a scalable business, this episode delivers an honest look behind the hype.

Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:

• Website: www.americanoperator.com
• AO In Action: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanOperator
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamericanoperator
• Newsletter: https://americanoperator.substack.com

Transcript

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:17:18
Unknown
I mean, the Shark Tank thing is interesting because I think, you know, that's like one of the biggest questions I get is like, what a Shark Tank do for the business. And what I would say is like 100%. It was like the most incredible top of funnel moment and brand awareness moment. But the reason it was successful for us

00:00:17:18 - 00:00:28:17
Unknown
All right, team, we are here in Saint Louis, Missouri, at the Peak Petite Palace with the one and only Lindsay Mellinger. So good to be here. Excited that you're here.

00:00:28:20 - 00:00:51:19
Unknown
Thank you for coming. I can't believe we get to see this thing in real life. It's awesome. I you know, we've been friends with your family for quite some time, but I think you never can imagine just where folks like, where their life will take them. And so seeing what you all have built here, seeing your face on TV to change in people's lives all across America, we just really honored to be here.

00:00:51:19 - 00:01:12:07
Unknown
And I'm stoked to dive into early days and everything that comes in between. But let's get into it. Let's do it. Excited you're here. Tell me just I guess before we kind of kick off with anything, I if you were going to describe Petite Cape to somebody, how do you describe what y'all do. Because it is definitely a more than just a thing that you sell.

00:01:12:07 - 00:01:37:11
Unknown
It's a feeling. Yeah. So what's your rundown on that? Yeah, absolutely. So Petite Keep is all about life's greatest memories. We are, you know, building pieces for the highest of high moments in our customer's lives. They're getting married, they're having babies, they're graduating college, and they're coming to pick to celebrate that. We launched with a hero trunk that that is what we're best known for.

00:01:37:11 - 00:02:10:11
Unknown
And as we've grown, our customers have asked us to, you know, have other solutions to their journey. And we've begun to, like, thoughtfully unfold those. But at the core, we are all about celebrating life's greatest moments and memories. How did the idea come to be out of a personal need? I was having my second daughter and it was like just organizing my oldest nursery and couldn't find anything that I felt like was something I'd want to like style in her nursery, but felt like quality that I could pass down to her.

00:02:10:11 - 00:02:40:21
Unknown
That I could personalize. I had a bit of an entrepreneur entrepreneurial edge and, that when I give this a go and see if anyone else has the same need, I do. So so you made your own, and then you kind of was like people hitting you up like, where'd you get this thing? Or. Yeah, I honestly like, I started an Instagram account and I built a Shopify website myself, and I had never done that before, but it wasn't pretty, not my not my greatest skill set.

00:02:40:23 - 00:03:10:12
Unknown
But it worked. And like, it was like a great one for getting the word out there. And I just was like, let's see if there's proof of product market fit. You know, I had a really great career that I loved, and I didn't want to just I am risk averse. And so I wanted to like, dabble and see if anyone else needed this before I, like, went all in and, frankly, through just like the community we built initially via Instagram, we were able to kind of get that proof of product market fit.

00:03:10:14 - 00:03:29:21
Unknown
It's awesome. I yeah, you mentioned I think, folks, it'll break their mind to go like she's an entrepreneur founder clearly loves taking risk. Yeah. Can you talk to folks on how you balance like that Midwest risk averse kind of mentality and then also building this thing that we're seeing here? I mean, you just like hit it on the head, the Midwest aspect of it.

00:03:29:21 - 00:04:10:09
Unknown
I think that's the piece that's like always in balance and always intention with like the perceivable of like an entrepreneur that loves risk. I was raised by, you know, parents that grew up, like in the rural Missouri, working on farms, like we I grew up in a very like, hardworking Midwestern family. And I was like, lucky enough that they like, you know, I got to go to college, and I so I think the idea of, like, abandoning this career that I did love and was, like, safe and secure has always been like, I just couldn't imagine doing that and sleeping until, like, there was a proven opportunity.

00:04:10:09 - 00:04:45:02
Unknown
So, for sure, like your, your background and your, your upbringing, I think can, like, play a role. And that's the role that it plays. Now, that being said, there's a part of me to your point, being an entrepreneur, obviously there's a risk factor that I'm comfortable with. But even today, like whether it be like a new product we're launching or, you know, a new like a that we're doing, I always look to the data and like, want to see that there's something that's telling me that it makes sense to do that you kind of have is you're kind of pressure testing.

00:04:45:03 - 00:04:52:13
Unknown
Yeah. As you're doing something else. Yeah. So with this, for example, you were like, okay, I'm going to keep doing my full time thing until I really start to see

00:04:52:13 - 00:05:08:08
Unknown
that it's starting to gain some traction. Exactly. Yeah. We, so launched in 2020 and like I mentioned, was working, in CPG, working in full time job, did this nights and weekends and obviously like it was much more simple then.

00:05:08:08 - 00:05:23:15
Unknown
So it was like nights and weekends. My husband and I were like building every trunk out of our attic. And I, when we hit six figures in sales, I was like, okay, this thing has legs. Yeah, I need to go give this a real chance.

00:05:23:15 - 00:05:35:18
Unknown
I think a lot of folks is that kind of advice you'd give to folks who want to start something like, try to do it with the thing that you're doing and see if it's kind of almost like, see if even like that grind and hustle of trying to balance, too.

00:05:35:20 - 00:05:56:14
Unknown
You know, I think there's like so many different opinions out there person like everyone's going to have a different. But like, I think that proving something out before you potentially abandoned you know, what you've worked so hard also to get to is like, oh, really? I just think it's it's smart because there is a lot of risk in business and it is really hard and it isn't for everyone.

00:05:56:14 - 00:06:12:17
Unknown
Like there were actually like multiple other things I tried before Petite Keep that. I was like, oof, this isn't for me. And like, thank goodness I had my career to like fall back on. Yeah, that's a because I think a lot of folks maybe think I've heard it out there where it's like, well, I got to leave my things.

00:06:12:17 - 00:06:27:22
Unknown
I can really give this an honest try. And part of it is kind of the the feeling of the weight of like how you know, it's going to get crazy trying to do both. I think they don't realize, like, if this thing does take off, it's going to be crazy. Yeah. So just 100% to start getting used to that right now.

00:06:28:00 - 00:06:44:01
Unknown
Yeah, that's a great way to cut your teeth in it. And like just say like see if that's cut for you. And also like if you love it, it becomes like an obsession. Right. So like it's it's okay to have to be that full because you can't wait to get to that piece after your, you know, normal job.

00:06:44:03 - 00:07:04:07
Unknown
Hey, y'all. Quick break. Here at American Operator, we believe that small business is the backbone of this country. But more and more Main Street getting swallowed up by big corporations, wall Street or some of them are just shutting down. If you've ever thought about building something of your own, or just being a part of saving the American dream head on over to American operator.com.

00:07:04:09 - 00:07:14:13
Unknown
It's your one stop shop for inspiration stories, and you'll get to join this really great community of patriots that believe our country still worth fighting for. All right. Back to the show.

00:07:14:13 - 00:07:16:09
Unknown
how did you start to

00:07:16:09 - 00:07:18:10
Unknown
kind of think about.

00:07:18:11 - 00:07:40:07
Unknown
Like not only the, the, the product itself for making sure that for some reason or another, like people are feeling what you're feeling like, how do you convey the experience part of this? All because it seems to me, especially now, it's probably something, you know, you fast forward six years. Oh of course it's experience. But how did you do that in the early days with just you and Charles wrangling this day from day one has been about storytelling.

00:07:40:07 - 00:08:04:19
Unknown
So being able to share, you know that feeling of like through other people has been really important to us. We launched PK, like I mentioned, with an Instagram account and a Shopify website and via Instagram, we built relationships with incredible influencers that were just like has been such long term. Like I consider them friends now, but at the beginning it was me.

00:08:04:19 - 00:08:25:20
Unknown
Just like sending them a message asking if I could send them a trunk. Yeah, and then they are using it and like telling their story. So it's it's kind of always been how do we tell a story with our product so that our customer, our potential customer can feel like they could be in those shoes and use that and feel the emotion of it.

00:08:25:20 - 00:08:48:08
Unknown
So it's connecting it to, you know, a bridal trunk to like your biggest day or a graduation trunk to the feeling of like accomplishment and achievement. The yeah, the y'all have such a I know it's not easy, but it's such a fluidity in your brain. Like, it just feels like, you invite other people to participate. Also, it's not like we're the only people that tell the story.

00:08:48:10 - 00:09:03:10
Unknown
Like if you all go to your website, you'll go to your Instagram account. You just go to the anything that people might be doing. You allow your customers to tell their story too, about why, which is I mean, was that an accident or was that something you just y'all just knew that, like, it's not just us telling the story of the brand needs to be the people.

00:09:03:12 - 00:09:28:20
Unknown
Yeah. And then our, you know, every we always say, no, no. Two trunks are like. And every trunk is created for that, you know, recipient of the trunk. And so I do think it's such an important part of our brand to have our customer be the spotlight and like, be the moment. So with storytelling, we do have to be intentional about every single person that has eyes on the brand feeling like their story can be told that way.

00:09:28:20 - 00:10:00:10
Unknown
So it has been by design. We obviously like, tried and learned and reiterated throughout the, throughout, the last five years, but certainly like were also just like taking a step back and pinching ourselves that we're like getting to tell these stories. You know, we're like like every day there's like so many messages in Instagram of like pictures of our trunks, like baby showers, wedding events, like or like, why this is so cool that we got to be in the we were invited into that room with them.

00:10:00:14 - 00:10:17:05
Unknown
It's such a special time for folks. Yeah, I, the get it factor is really high. I think when you see it, I think folks understand it and especially the experience part. And if you don't, you just kind of need to like, and gentlemen, the other day that I think it was his wife was getting interested in this thing.

00:10:17:07 - 00:10:47:20
Unknown
And I even think, like, across lines, just people recognize it's probably the same level of like the importance of when someone buys their first house or someone has this keepsake that was passed down from their grandfather. It has that initial, I think, gifted factor for both guys and gals, and I think that's something that, definitely the brand has for folks that are out there like that are thinking about their brand and thinking about what they're doing and how they do the things in addition to the feelings about it, what some of the like, rigor behind it that y'all try to do.

00:10:47:20 - 00:11:01:12
Unknown
What are some of the things that you say you also kind of have to have? You mentioned it yesterday? I think we're walking around. You also have to know where you sit and where you don't sit in order to make sure your brand is clear to folks what thoughts you have on that. Just as far as building a brand and the right.

00:11:01:12 - 00:11:27:23
Unknown
Yeah, we are relentlessly focused on brand new, our brand led company, and we are, you know, it's it's something that is discussed every day, all day. And we have an incredible brand team that is like leading those efforts. What I'd say is, you know, I think treating brand like knowing that like brand is above all else like that is the feeling your customers walking away with.

00:11:27:23 - 00:11:53:12
Unknown
And if customer obsessed always is our number one core value, that means brand needs to be like it needs to be perfect. And so whether that means we call it 360 branding. So whether that means the experience our customers having on our website, the experience our customers having the first time she opens a package, the experience our customers having three years from now with our product, the experience our customers having when she calls into our customer experience team like it needs to be consistent.

00:11:53:12 - 00:12:16:06
Unknown
It needs to be incredible. Every time she sees like the light blue and our branding, it needs to be that exact Pantone, you know? And every scallop has to be the same depth. And it sounds crazy, but to build a brand like you have to have those standards so that a customer knows and can trust and feel taken care of.

00:12:16:08 - 00:12:34:00
Unknown
There's something that hits you. I mean, even walking into this building yells doors tiki blue, you know? But it's like I immediately go, oh, I know where I'm at, you know, I know how I feel. Take us back to like, I think that the it might be easy to if you walk in here to go like, oh yeah, the polishes here, it's easy.

00:12:34:02 - 00:12:52:19
Unknown
Can you take us back to just some of the early days? You know, I think I can appreciate just being friends with you all, but also just meeting so many incredible people who build things, how hard it is. I don't know any. Just early day anecdotes or stories just to kind of articulate to folks that it's worth it, but it's definitely not easy.

00:12:52:21 - 00:13:21:16
Unknown
Yeah. Exactly what you just said. I mean, I think. In the early days, it was, you know, it was me, myself and I on the PK team alongside my, my family was amazing and was my husband was building trunks with me. My parents were packing every single trunk, and then but as far as, like the infrastructure of the business, etc., I think so the hard looked different than than it does today.

00:13:21:18 - 00:13:41:23
Unknown
A lot of it also is like, is this going to work? I'm putting myself out there like, you know, I think you have to be comfortable with a little bit of like healthy embarrassment, you know, to be like, I'm putting myself out there. Maybe this works, maybe this doesn't. At the end of the day, I think the biggest piece, though, that's hard, but like, worth it.

00:13:41:23 - 00:14:12:00
Unknown
And frankly, like, I, I almost am like energized by the heart as it's just putting, you know, it's like every day just putting in the reps. Right. Like you can't expect something to happen overnight. You have to keep pouring into that cup. But as far as just I mean, I think back to like year one and I'm like, okay, like, we were up until like 2 a.m., like every night, like getting trunks ready or answering customer experience questions.

00:14:12:02 - 00:14:35:21
Unknown
Back then our packaging looked different, but like picking that right tissue paper and, you know, you have to you have to be willing to, like, put in those wraps. Like, I think that's what it comes down to. How is it especially when, you know, navigating littles in life and like all those things, I don't know, how do you keep the I don't know, how do you keep your wits about yourself doing it all?

00:14:35:23 - 00:14:57:06
Unknown
I, I feel lucky that like, I love what I'm doing. Like I love building like I when people ask me like what my hobbies are, I'm like, I love like this. I just like my job. You know, I so when I think about like I'm at the intersection of like my two favorite things in the world, building my family and building my business.

00:14:57:08 - 00:15:16:08
Unknown
So, yes, life is full. Yes. There's so much going on. Yes, at the end of the night, my I, my head hits the pillow and I'm falling asleep in one second because I'm that tired. Tired? But like, wow, I'm so lucky to be at that intersection, right? Like, I'm obsessed with peak. I'm obsessed. So I don't know.

00:15:16:08 - 00:15:35:05
Unknown
I mean, I think for me, it's almost like reframing the lens and like instead of looking at like how, you know, hard, difficult, busy, etc. all those things can be it's like more like glass half full of gratitude. Yeah. You get to do this. Yeah, I get to do this. Yeah. I get to have to like, you know, think through logistics of work and family and all the things.

00:15:35:05 - 00:15:59:22
Unknown
And so, and it doesn't mean that it doesn't come with, like, needing, you know, I, I'm blessed that I have, like, the most amazing village. My mom, my husband, you know, my husband is just he is like, we are building this together, right. Like this family. And so and then my, my parents are like so helpful and etc. so Charles is pretty good.

00:15:59:22 - 00:16:21:03
Unknown
Dude. Yeah. Hey, I actually I'm curious, like when you think about, family, like I think a lot of times they see the entrepreneur, they see the leader running a business. You know, it's, I don't know, I think people think they have an idea of what the day to day might look like. But would you say there's also a lot of important decision making that happens around the dinner table?

00:16:21:04 - 00:16:36:13
Unknown
Oh, for sure. Like, what are some of those insides that you feel like, like you got to have this, right? Because y'all are a great team. I mean, I got to imagine that's a big secret sauce to it all. It's the sauce is the same. Sure. For sure. I mean, Charles always jokes. He's like, I'm your Netflix and chill advisor.

00:16:36:13 - 00:16:59:02
Unknown
You know, like we always like, laugh about that. I think, you know, Charles has been he's never like worked at PQ per se. But like he has been involved with like since day one. And I think that's because as two people that like very much engulfed themselves in what they're doing. Like I'm like, you know, I do take work home.

00:16:59:08 - 00:17:20:19
Unknown
That's just the reality of who I am. Like, I don't live in this like black and white life. He's been so generous and kind to, like, always be that year and like that, like, thought, you know, to like, walk through things or think through things. Obviously, in the early days, he was like the physical manpower to to like, help build the trunks.

00:17:20:19 - 00:17:45:10
Unknown
And I shouldn't even say early days because this past Christmas season, he was also building trunks at the Peak Palace. So he's our pinch hitter also. But, he loves it too, like he's energized by it also. But I do think, like, I'm always like, that is, you know, that is such an important part of the equation and how it all works is Charles and like the partner that he is.

00:17:45:10 - 00:18:05:07
Unknown
And then also, just like the thought partner he is and etc., what like as a as a leader, as the person of the organization, you know, the, the, the one holding the flag. What are some of those decisions? That is mainly like, hey, I got to run something by you, am I okay? Am I thinking the way Lindsay thinks?

00:18:05:07 - 00:18:22:05
Unknown
Like what I'm thinking about what you guys are able to do back at home before you kind of come in here? Yeah. And let me reframe it. Maybe it's like, I know as leaders like you discuss and collaborate with your team on decisions all day long. Yeah. But I always feel like there's a special set of decisions and thought process that happens at the house or happens like on a walk or something that's different.

00:18:22:05 - 00:18:47:19
Unknown
Yeah. Can you share any bit of like just how you delineate those two types of things? Yeah, I would say that like I mean one. So I think things that keep me up at night will always be like the way that I can best support and shop for my team. And that's like something that I'm like, I like wake up every day and I'm like, I have the privilege to like, lead a team that is like, oh, by the way, like the most amazing team.

00:18:47:19 - 00:19:09:17
Unknown
And like the reason our brand is what our brand is. So I think I've always admired Charles's leadership. I think you both, you know, you went to the best leadership institution in the world, and there's so many like, incredible, invaluable lessons that y'all learned, whether it be at school or whether that be like, you know, in the military.

00:19:09:17 - 00:19:30:20
Unknown
And I just I've always admired his leadership. And so I think hearing, you know, perspectives on that is always like a really healthy thing to get external perspectives. Also knowing that, like he has the best interest of like JC and the team of like like in mind, it's just always nice. Like another gut check. So I feel like we, we definitely have that.

00:19:30:20 - 00:19:50:15
Unknown
But I think, you know, there's, there's nothing off like we, he wants to know like he's in, you know building trunks in December and he's like wait you guys launched this new print and I didn't know about it you know. So like he's like a high level guy. Like he loves it. He loves it all. And and and I'm grateful that he can, you know, he can yo yo back and forth between that.

00:19:50:15 - 00:20:10:16
Unknown
But yeah. Certainly like, I think I just, I want to always check myself and make sure that I'm doing, the best for my team. And I think there's so many lessons to be learned that you all, you know, took away from West Point, took away from your time in the military, leading in incredibly, you know, wild times.

00:20:10:18 - 00:20:29:03
Unknown
Yeah. That's. Yeah. Well, you were by the side of all that, I mean, the entire way through. So you get to like, see all that in real time. I yeah, I think about I wonder if this resonates with you. I think about the things that I go back home to and talk to Kelsey about, you know, are more like the decisions that are usually two good ones.

00:20:29:05 - 00:20:45:04
Unknown
Oh yeah. Or you know what I mean. And I kind of like go I'm going to air both these decisions out. You tell me what feels more like me. Yeah. Because sometimes when you're in the mix it can be confusing like too because you're trying to balance too many people telling you things hundred percent and you're like, what's the thing that you know me best to do?

00:20:45:06 - 00:21:11:01
Unknown
Yeah. And, almost every time she's like that one, you know, once in a while, though, I wonder if you all have these. She'll be like, oh, that's funky. You know, every time. Yeah. He keeps me honest for sure. Yeah. And, you know, again, I think, like it's, it's good to have like another perspective and to have that support system and that you know I think yeah I, I don't want and same with our team.

00:21:11:01 - 00:21:31:22
Unknown
Like I hope that like everyone is like coming to the table with total like honesty and what they think, not just what you know with the boss. I'm thinking. Yeah. That's the culture we're building is like people feeling like they have, you know, everyone's an owner and and owning the outcome. And so, it's one of our core values and and so yeah, same same with Charles.

00:21:32:00 - 00:21:50:09
Unknown
It keeps me honest for sure. No, that's I just and I think for just other folks that are in the arena running their business or running their families, like I think not having them is always refreshing to hear somebody who's doing it right and who's building something that's meaningful to still be very like, grounded in their team at home.

00:21:50:09 - 00:22:10:04
Unknown
I think that's something that you I don't know I don't know how anybody does it without that. Like, yeah, doing this alone and afraid is just like not a good call. Yeah. It would it would never it wouldn't work. And I think, you know, the reality is like I'm Charles, they're in the thick of it with like, young children, like we are just in the thick of it, of like passing the baton back and forth between our careers and like our.

00:22:10:06 - 00:22:33:15
Unknown
So I think communication above all else is like the most important part of our relationship. And, he knows that, like, as PK is like how much, you know, just like how quickly we're growing. Like what? What the needs are of the business. Like, he knows that sometimes, like, I just need to, like, you know, I do need to bring it home.

00:22:33:15 - 00:22:52:19
Unknown
Like, that's just the reality of it. And. And he's, like, so supportive of that. Yeah. What do you do when he, when you think about the early days versus where you're at today? How has Wednesday's job description, if you want to call it that, changed? Like what were you focused on there now what's today look like? What are the things that are mainly keeping you busy?

00:22:52:19 - 00:23:19:23
Unknown
It's changed so much and like to be completely transparent. That hasn't always been like easy to feel that change. And I'm like grateful for my team that's worked through that with me. Like as I like. I'm someone that just like loves the build. Like I love the build. Like it's so fun taking something from 0 to 1. And it's so fun having that direct interaction with our customer and like rolling up your sleeves and like doing the thing.

00:23:20:01 - 00:23:42:10
Unknown
Yeah. And so, you know, in year one, like that was me like, you know, writing the email coming up with this and the other companies the other. And obviously as we've grown, our team has grown. And now we have there's 16 of us and on the HQ side across the country and, we have people that are, you know, specialists in their own vertical.

00:23:42:12 - 00:24:07:04
Unknown
And so I do think at the end of the day, like my most important job today is like protecting our culture and laying out a clear vision and making sure I'm removing roadblocks from every single one of my teammates that, like, is trying to accomplish their respective goals and just making sure that my entire team feels, you know, energized and, like, capable of, like, what goals they're set out ahead of them.

00:24:07:04 - 00:24:19:04
Unknown
So what would you say your style for doing that is like, or if someone were going to describe Lindsay oh my gosh, Lindsay the boss. Like what does that sound? Oh I need to ask. I you sound like me just for I mean, we've been friends for a while, but I like you sound like a pretty good person.

00:24:19:04 - 00:24:44:22
Unknown
Or for when I'm just you. I like the heart emojis. Oh, okay. Yeah. Just emoji people up. I'm like a like a heart emoji. I, I mean, I, you know, I hope every one of my teammates knows that. Like, I'm willing to like, get into the, you know, weeds with them when they, they want me and need me to I'm also like doing my best to not be like a micromanager.

00:24:44:22 - 00:25:06:12
Unknown
So like, I want to enable people to do, like, like to be the owners of their space. And, you know, at the end of the day and one of the the most important answer to your question is I'm always, you know, we're a family first organization. So at the end of the day, like, someone's not feeling 100% like at home, like they're not going to be able to bring their best self to work.

00:25:06:12 - 00:25:25:07
Unknown
And so we're family first always. And my team knows that, like if they've got something going on the home front, they need, you know, they have full permission to take care of that first. And then as far as like leadership within the professional careers, it's I want everyone to have the career of their dreams at peak. Right.

00:25:25:07 - 00:25:45:15
Unknown
And so that means making sure we're having consistent communication on like what that means for each individual because it looks so different across like, everyone's personal lives. Yeah. No, it's it seems like being a leader of a team is like really a leader for a bunch of individuals because they all process things. Different things, different, different family situations.

00:25:45:15 - 00:26:07:19
Unknown
Yeah, all those things. Do you think that when it comes to how much does that start with bringing the right folks in? And I don't know what right folks means for POC? Or do you find it that's easy to develop people once you're here? We are like relentlessly focused on our culture. That is like like I mentioned, my most important part of my job.

00:26:07:19 - 00:26:29:02
Unknown
And that means that comes down to like making sure that people we bring into the organization are core value fed. So I do think at the end of the day, like you can't just like take everyone, like take anyone and just like assume that they can be to me like I'm I am when I'm interviewing. I'm looking at like core value fact.

00:26:29:02 - 00:26:47:07
Unknown
First, I'd much rather someone just have the capacity and capability to get to where they need to be than the experience. So I'm looking at like capacity, capability and just like that core value of it. Yeah. Is there something out there that you ask people or like you have a favorite question that you kind of will kind of start to give you an idea of their character or their core value.

00:26:47:10 - 00:27:05:12
Unknown
It. Yeah, I think like even just like asking people like who they are, like what they like, you know, value outside of work. I think understanding like, you know, I mentioned earlier on, your outcome is one of our core values. So like hearing an example like I love asking you about and your outcome and hearing.

00:27:05:14 - 00:27:31:04
Unknown
You know, an example of when they did have to like lead through adversity and like got through something and and frankly sometimes like I love when they give me an example where something like still didn't turn out, you know, because like they pushed through and there's like a tenacity factor. Yeah. But at the end of the day, like, you know, small business like, there it, it is, it's you have to be able to like have that on your outcome push.

00:27:31:05 - 00:27:54:21
Unknown
You have to be able to like work as, like a team because we're our team is everything. But yeah, I think asking around the core value is probably the best. No, I sorry, you just gave me a memory, as you were saying that. No. Yeah. It was, Well, I think you you put me right back at the academy for a second, and I wonder if, like, you have any thoughts on this, because it seems to me that y'all, like, core values are, like, they just mirror them so.

00:27:54:21 - 00:28:14:10
Unknown
Well, I remember Charles. I laugh about this, but like, I remember when you show up as a first year at Playboy. Yeah. The only you really a lot. There's only four responses. You're allowed. That's it. It's the only four things you're allowed to say ever the entire year. And so it is. Yes, sir or ma'am? No sir or ma'am.

00:28:14:12 - 00:28:37:23
Unknown
No excuse. Sir. Ma'am, I do not understand. That's it. And what's interesting about those four comments is like, that kind of makes a pretty honest person, like from a core value perspective. Like nowhere in those lines was, well, let me tell you, I didn't happen. Or let me, you know, all these things. It was just those things. And I think you as you were talking about your core values, I hadn't thought about that thought.

00:28:38:04 - 00:29:01:18
Unknown
And so that is amazing. But you were just talking about how you just want to know, like how do you lead through adversity even if it doesn't turn out well. Yeah, that's pretty cool. You probably get some good stories over the years, I imagine, which is folks who probably take you back. Yeah, yeah. I mean, we like I meant, you know, our team is it's just it's a really special place to be, like, we've got our entire team.

00:29:01:18 - 00:29:25:15
Unknown
I'd say is also like the customer themselves. Yeah. And so I think we all, like, can level set on like what our customers are looking for. And I think it gives us a special connection to why we wake up every day and, they're there. Yeah. Adversity is like the name of the game and building a small business and a startup and like that whole, you know, kind of intersection of the world.

00:29:25:15 - 00:29:45:17
Unknown
But. So thanks for that. I'm just like, I don't that doesn't happen very often. So that helps me just I mean, just I'll, I'll smile about that all the way back to Texas. Speaking of smiling, I got all these awesome trucks behind me, and so. And you walked us through the whole process of, like, building these things out, how it works all the way from, the 360 customer experience.

00:29:45:17 - 00:30:03:01
Unknown
You're talking about. Lindsay. It's a lot of work. But one thing in somebody's hands, it's it's kind of crazy, you know? And I guess my thought is, is like, how do you how do y'all maintain a high level standard like that? Because to your point, it's so important people are making this from arguably one of the most important events in their life.

00:30:03:03 - 00:30:29:00
Unknown
And you all just didn't go like, here's the thing, we got there all the same. I mean, there's not a I haven't seen a single one that looks the same. How do y'all maintain that level of precision? It's complex, you know. It's it is. And it is something that like it's it's wild. Like as we've, as we've gotten even, you know, deeper in to the whole, like, warehouse fulfillment, like knowledge base of ourselves.

00:30:29:02 - 00:30:53:19
Unknown
We have like, learned how rare it is to have an operation where, like, you're just custom manufacturing every single skill. So it's interesting, but at the end of the day, that heirloom quality you're talking about, that dedicated to the detail, is like that is the DNA of our brand. And the second that we abandon that, we're abandoning our customers.

00:30:53:19 - 00:31:11:20
Unknown
And then we're abandoning the future of work. So it's a really a simple decision. Yeah. Like, not that hard just because I'm like, there is no other decision than having like a perfect product. Yeah, we have really high standards. We owe that to our customers. They're spending a lot of, you know, they're choosing to spend a lot of money with us.

00:31:11:20 - 00:31:33:20
Unknown
They're choosing to trust us. And these, like, highly emotional moments. Half of our customers are gifting the trunk, so they're not even the recipient. And they're like choosing us out as a as a gift. So, we owe it to them. And, and, you know, they share it. They share that appreciation back with us, with their customer, you know, their brand loyalty.

00:31:34:00 - 00:31:54:22
Unknown
Yeah. It's like it better be right. Yeah. Can you walk folks through who've never experienced PK? Yeah. Can you walk them through like what the, what they would be getting into the extent of customization that y'all do. It's unreal. So customers come to our website and they choose a trunk color so they can choose, you know, between several colors.

00:31:55:00 - 00:32:16:07
Unknown
They choose a fabric. And we have fabrics. All of our fabrics, we call them our signature prints. They're painted by female artists across the country, and they all tie back to like an experience or a memory. So super intentional on that front. And that really feeds back into like our 360 branding. They then get to choose like what they're going to embroider, right?

00:32:16:07 - 00:32:45:21
Unknown
So they can embroider. You know, my favorite things, they could embroider a name and any, special day we see literally at all. You saw it all yesterday, which is like brain. Yeah. It's like, it's so cool to see how creative our customers are. And, they can then personalize it with a padlock. Beyond that. So our, our process in the warehouse really is, you know, it's not just picking a skew, packaging it and shipping it.

00:32:45:23 - 00:33:10:13
Unknown
Once we get the order where we're then embroidering it, we're then we're assembling it, then it's going through, you know, there's a QC ownership throughout the process. Everyone is a QC owner at peak. And then at the end there's a final QC process before chips. Yeah I mean down to I mean it's I'm just you would think I was I mean there's like plenty more of these cars that are behind us out there.

00:33:10:13 - 00:33:28:16
Unknown
I would have thought I'd saw two that looked the same. At least two. Not a single one is the same. All different shapes and sizes. The favorite part about the brand? It's unreal. It's really cool. I think, like for folks who maybe need a little encouragement of what you put in these things, what have you seen folks use them for?

00:33:28:18 - 00:33:53:22
Unknown
Yeah. So we so baby and bridal are two biggest verticals. So and I say baby probably two specific of the term children. So we see first names a lot and those, you know, that customer base is storing maybe it's a favorite, you know, piece of artwork from school. Maybe it's baby's first shoes, maybe it's the this book that you read to your child for like two years.

00:33:53:22 - 00:34:18:13
Unknown
And it's like their favorite book and it's tethered. Favorite stuff. You know, pieces that are like, have made that experience those years. Bridal is, a very consistent like it is very similar size as baby as far as the business goes. And our brides are, you know, actually buying them like early, you know, throughout the process of their bridal era.

00:34:18:15 - 00:34:43:21
Unknown
But, at the beginning, a lot of them are using them in their bridal showers, all the way to like their details of their, their day off. And, they're storing, you know, shoes, paper, sweet. They all just like important moments. Are you finding that, like, folks didn't even know I it's the get it factors how you like of course in this thing now to go store it.

00:34:43:21 - 00:35:00:17
Unknown
But do you think like folks who there's a lot of folks who run into your own didn't even realize, like, oh, this is actually something I need? Yeah, I think, I think that the reason why we resonate well with where, like society and culture is right now is because Petty Keep is a brand. It's like built on experiences.

00:35:00:17 - 00:35:26:15
Unknown
We're not building a brand based on like, things and like the things that you're, like, tucking away. In fact, we have created we we think you have a trunk and you carry down your things, but then you keep it in reach so you can like, recall those experiences. So instead of, you know, gone are the days where there's just like lots of tubs in the attic that are, like, collecting dust and, you know, like, why like, I haven't seen that in 25 years.

00:35:26:15 - 00:35:45:23
Unknown
It's like, let's just like fewer things and appreciate that and like, have it in a piece that's beautiful enough to put out. Yeah. No that's a I can think about 20 different ways that like I would use this and I would do you know, but like, well I think especially like with did you know your old college and academy staff like right now.

00:35:46:04 - 00:36:11:05
Unknown
I mean we, they, they gave us these these are I think what far better built because like if you don't have you seen chocolate because you're like falling apart. You know, they're made out of papier maché. I don't even know what they were made out of. But their rough shape. Yeah. I don't want to move them too many more times, but there is a lot of things that, and I imagine it's kind of nice for somebody to be able to pack this up and then at some point be able to hand down to, you know, my folks just did that recently.

00:36:11:05 - 00:36:29:02
Unknown
They kind of sent us, but it was in a cardboard box. Yeah. They had sent us just this box of things that, you know, that we were had when we were young, from time in the hospital all the way to just old pictures. Well, now I know what I need to go tell you. Like. Yes. Take this back and give it to me the right way.

00:36:29:06 - 00:36:48:13
Unknown
Yeah. What are you doing? With the folks that are out there, like, you know, you give us a great tour of, like, the facility itself. How do you how do you foresee where petite keeps going? Like, if you were daydreaming, like, five years from now, what do you hope to be doing? That's the same. And what do you hope to be doing that's different?

00:36:48:15 - 00:37:11:17
Unknown
Well, we want to be on every baby and bridal registry in America. We want to be like the best gifting brand on the internet. So those are a couple internal, you know, goals and dreams that our team has as we think about how they get there. Right. It's how do we continue meeting our customer where she needs us to meet her.

00:37:11:17 - 00:37:34:14
Unknown
And so we launched the wholesale. Actually, last week was our first week at market. So showing up in other places and other channels also coming out with other products that potentially meet her needs in a different way. So we are, you know, as we think about like a good, better, best strategy, like bringing more to our, to our lineup.

00:37:34:14 - 00:38:05:15
Unknown
But at the end of the day, you know, I want us to be building a brand that, like anyone who's interacted with us, knows, like our tip top core value, which is customer obsessed, always. Like, I want them to be like they have the best customer experience of any brand I've ever interacted with. And I want I want our, you know, I want our customer base to know that they can return to us for, for their biggest, like, gifting and moments.

00:38:05:15 - 00:38:29:16
Unknown
So so it stays the same as yours ability to make people smile and feel like they're connected to you all. I'm so stoked to see what? Like how this thing continues to grow. You just like you can see it. You can just see that it's got a ton of sure. This is like, you can probably do this forever, but I can only imagine though it's top secret kicking in the brain right now about like, what are the things to come?

00:38:29:19 - 00:38:52:13
Unknown
Well, it's like it's so fun getting to try new things on the business too, right? Like, we we we are a social first company. So we like I mentioned, launch with an Instagram account. But you know, from there we really have like we do have a team that's like very much dedicated to like how we show up on social and how we continue to let that be like a leading force.

00:38:52:13 - 00:39:20:13
Unknown
And so, I'm even excited for like, this year, we actually just created a new position. One of our teammates is moving into it, and she's going to lead community for PK because, that kind of that almost like marries our customer obsession and our social first aspects. And we're going to be popping up across the country. And I'm so excited to like, go see our customers in real life at these events and create you know, this fandom is fandom moments throughout.

00:39:20:14 - 00:39:35:00
Unknown
Is that like, like people come and just kind of hang with you all or like, what is the how do you envision that? What's going on? Yeah. What's the format? Yeah, I think it's going to look different. Like I think what's going to be exciting is it's going to look different across the, across the board, across the event.

00:39:35:01 - 00:39:59:23
Unknown
So I would say there will be, there will be moments that are smaller, more one on one. They'll be experiences that are larger scale and more like, you know, exciting. And, I won't say chaotic, but just like a little bit more like splash work. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Free flow. Just like Gatorade. Yeah. Exactly. So. Oh, I'm excited to go see that.

00:39:59:23 - 00:40:18:02
Unknown
Yeah, I think you're right. Like people want to, especially with a product like this. Folks want to engage and they're obviously doing that in a way that's engaging with you all on the, on all the things you all are already doing. But there's something about the in-person component in and we're just like, oh, for sure, that's the level to a different stratosphere.

00:40:18:03 - 00:40:38:12
Unknown
For sure. It does. I mean, I you could ask like anyone that was with me at market last week, like on day one, I was on like a high like no other because of getting to spend the time with our boutique owners, with our, just like people that had been watching the brand. Like getting to hear what it means to them and that they get to bring it into their store.

00:40:38:15 - 00:40:59:08
Unknown
Yeah, it's that connection, right? Like people buy from people and we will never stop prioritizing that. Yeah. Like you want to put a face to the name. Yeah. Put a face to the email. Something that makes you go like okay, that's like the relational aspect. So I know we're coming up on time here. I just a few thoughts left on my brain.

00:40:59:08 - 00:41:23:08
Unknown
Lindsay and I could talk to you for hours. Feeling's mutual. Tell me just a little bit about, as you think about as an owner, like how you grow while also keeping culture. What are the things that keep you most up at night? Just about like not going beyond what you would. You guys have so special here.

00:41:23:10 - 00:41:48:16
Unknown
You like exactly your sentence. I mean, that does that does keep me up at night because yeah, people are the most important part of the of what I do every day. And like my role has changed so distinctly and so quickly. And so, my most important job is protecting that culture for all the teammates that I have that are trusting their careers with me and with Becky.

00:41:48:17 - 00:42:13:16
Unknown
Like that is such a privilege that I get to do that. And I want to make sure that I'm creating, you know, an environment, a brand, etc., where they can have the career of their dreams. And so that means, you know, us making, you know, making decisions to protect culture. That means making sure that we have a business that's growing in a way that like, can create that, like upward mobility, that mean there's so many to that.

00:42:13:16 - 00:42:47:17
Unknown
But but it's been like it's definitely like a hard thing, like, like it's, it's my favorite place to spend the time. But it's hard because like, I care so deeply. Yeah. You know, like that is something people are spending the majority of their weeks on. Right. I think what's cool about where we are in the corner of the world and the way that PK is growing is like every single teammate has been a massive part of like, like they have each accomplished so much that have laddered up to the PK.

00:42:47:22 - 00:43:05:16
Unknown
Yeah, yeah, you can see it at And the reason I think about it, y'all have just gracefully navigated this like like even from you y'all. You been on Shark Tank. Yeah. Right. And having no doubt, you know, one if y'all haven't watched it, go watch it. Lindsay's awesome. You get even another aspect of just like with her.

00:43:05:18 - 00:43:24:02
Unknown
But even with that I imagine, you know, that's a whole new set of things like, okay, cool. We get more eyeballs, more people, more things. How do I still keep what we are special in what we do, right? Right. And I imagine that navigating that I'm seeing it now seems like y'all have gracefully done that. But I'm sure without.

00:43:24:04 - 00:43:25:14
Unknown
Yeah, I mean, it's hard work.

00:43:25:14 - 00:43:49:01
Unknown
I mean, the Shark Tank thing is interesting because I think, you know, that's like one of the biggest questions I get is like, what a Shark Tank do for the business. And what I would say is like 100%. It was like the most incredible top of funnel moment and brand awareness moment. But the reason it was successful for us was because of what every single team team member did with that top of funnel moment.

00:43:49:01 - 00:44:09:14
Unknown
Right? And to create the flywheel, us taking our customer, you know, these new eyeballs and helping them understand what that brand could mean to them, helping make sure that we talked to them the way that they wanted them to be talked to. And then fulfilling on our promise once they did purchase and making sure they had like a tip top, perfect trunk at their doorstep.

00:44:09:14 - 00:44:31:20
Unknown
So, nothing is given. Nothing to give it to. Ernie. Yeah, I got it. Yeah. So I think that's like a big thing is like, it wasn't just like the show, this moment. But but it was definitely, like the experience of a lifetime for for our entire team. Yeah. That's cool. It's such an. This is an American dream example moment.

00:44:31:20 - 00:44:49:05
Unknown
But even seeing you up there and seeing you here, like, I mean, all that stuff, it's, pinching myself daily for sure. I know it's crazy. Well, especially, like we all known each other since you're a kid. Like you. Think about how young we all knew each other, you know, like, barely figuring out in the world. And now we're here doing our grown up stuff, and.

00:44:49:05 - 00:45:08:11
Unknown
Yeah. Are we ready? Are we, are we doing. Are we there? Well, yeah. As soon as I feel like as soon as I get together with with Charles and the boys, like, they're like, I'm back to being 18 again. But I do. I think for folks out there right now, I'm curious, like, maybe a good way to tie a bow on on our on our episode here.

00:45:08:11 - 00:45:30:19
Unknown
I just think, I think there's a lot of folks that worry that maybe the American dream is not alive. You know, it's something that is hard to reach. Can't go get it, you know? And yet I see you all here in middle America, you know, you're not even, like, if you looked at a company like, they might, like zoom somebody right here, they might go, oh, New York, LA, you know, and it's like, no, this is in Missouri.

00:45:30:19 - 00:45:58:08
Unknown
Yes. You know, a great state that I have come to really appreciate. What would you tell folks that maybe are concerned if the, you know, the American dream is still a viable thing, especially as someone who's, like, living in right now, I don't know what words of encouragement or caution would you give them. Yeah, I think there's not a day that goes by that I don't pinch myself and think like, oh my God, like, this is what I hoped for for so long.

00:45:58:10 - 00:46:16:14
Unknown
And to get there, it took a lot, you know, and we we're not there, right? We will never be there. We are always working towards like, that next milestone and that next x, Y and z. But, it took the courage to, like, put myself out there. It took the courage, you know, the tenacity to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

00:46:16:18 - 00:46:40:14
Unknown
It is hard work. But news alert, we can all do hard things, right? Like we can all do hard things. And it took a little bit of luck. Like there is like 100% like. But I think what's the quote? Like the harder I work luckier. But like, you know, I think that being relentless, like getting really clear on like what my focus and priorities were has helped us.

00:46:40:14 - 00:47:01:07
Unknown
Right. Like, let the main thing be the main thing. I know we talked about that yesterday. Do that saying, man. And to me that's like that's our team culture, that's our brand, that's our product, that's our customer obsession. Right. Those are my like those are my focus areas. And that's how we we become, you know what we're we're working to become.

00:47:01:12 - 00:47:22:01
Unknown
Yeah. So I think for folks that I've been fortunate enough to talk to all across this country, like you, Lindsey, they they always believe that the American dream is very attainable. Yeah. You know, I think it is. Aspera use you all. I'm taking the words out of your mouth, like aspirational yet attainable. But it isn't a coincidence that they're the folks that are, like, moving or anybody.

00:47:22:01 - 00:47:41:05
Unknown
I feel like that maybe feels that it isn't. Is maybe in front of a couch yelling at a TV. Yeah. You know, it's just like, is it a coincidence that those two worlds kind of exist in that way? Yeah, I mean, that's a really good point. Like, I, I would like being completely transparent. We launched in 2020. So we're coming up on our sixth year there.

00:47:41:05 - 00:48:01:13
Unknown
I could probably count on two hands. The number of times my husband has seen me, like without a computer at 10 p.m. and I, you know, like that's. Yeah, but that's okay. Like that's what fills up my cup and energizes me is like the idea of, like what can be and what will be in that grit aspect of it.

00:48:01:15 - 00:48:04:23
Unknown
For folks out there that want to.

00:48:05:01 - 00:48:23:11
Unknown
I don't know, learn just a little bit more about how you think about things or just even with the companies doing like how how can they? I think what y'all are building here special, and I think it's not just because you're a dear friend of mine, but I also just think because it's, I think it's proof that you can make anything awesome, you know, I mean, this is about as niche as it gets.

00:48:23:11 - 00:48:43:09
Unknown
I know. Is that, like, you're out here like we're going to go build tires that everybody can use. It's niche. But like I think that's helped us. Like I think that has been you know, I at the beginning in 2020 and 2021, I like actually pitched like a couple of like PR like magazines. And I remember them telling me like that is way too niche and like, like it wasn't going to work or.

00:48:43:09 - 00:48:54:08
Unknown
Yeah. And I think like just you do have to be like kind of a little crazy, like to do this, right? Yeah. Stubborn. All the words.

00:48:54:10 - 00:49:21:00
Unknown
You're right. You do have to be. I mean, you kind of have to, like, have people tell, you know, that has to, like, light you up to say, like, I'm going to do this, right? I had people tell me this is to niche. I had people tell me, like, you know, a lot of things. And, I think that if you I believed it in the customer like I the proof of product market fit like that special sauce.

00:49:21:00 - 00:49:42:22
Unknown
But yeah. Yeah, I know I said last thing, but I do have one more thing I want to ask you. I'm, I'm married a midwesterner, and so I've always felt like I've. Oh not always. I've for a while I didn't really understand this part of America, you know, especially being a the flyover states. Yeah. Especially being a darn Texan.

00:49:42:22 - 00:50:06:09
Unknown
Right. Like we're just too proud about where we're from. But I do I do see magic here in this part of America. And I do see where y'all are from here. So you understand it. But I think there's maybe a lot of folks that would benefit from checking this place out as a new home. And just like, I mean, give me, like, Lindsay's Midwestern pitch about why someone might want to move from wherever they're going to come and give this place a try.

00:50:06:09 - 00:50:34:01
Unknown
How much long time do I have? How much time do you want? I'm really like, I don't know how to capture it, but maybe you do better than I do. I can absolutely capture it. I mean, my husband and I were both born and raised here, right? And, we both went away to college, and then we were gone for ten years, and, you know, we lived on the West Coast, we lived in Chicago, we lived in the South, we lived in the mountains, and we.

00:50:34:03 - 00:50:50:02
Unknown
Literally could not think of a better place to come back and build, you know, our American dream, which meant a family and our careers. Then here in Saint Louis, when you think about the ingredients of, you know.

00:50:50:04 - 00:51:15:11
Unknown
Like I want to say like minimal distractions, but it isn't like the big flashy city, right? Per se. Like there is like a clarity on like what you can focus on the affordability factor of it. And my favorite piece, like how humble and hard working the culture of Saint Louis is, you know, like with, with all the like, we were surrounded by farmlands and things like that.

00:51:15:11 - 00:51:20:06
Unknown
So it's just a hard working culture. But,

00:51:20:08 - 00:51:39:13
Unknown
And then at the end of the day, you're talking about Texans being proud, like Saint Louis. Like, I'm sure you felt this way in the last like 36 hours since you've been here, like Saint Louis fans are so proud of their city. And I think that was shocking to me when I moved to other places, like being in cities where people aren't like I'm from, you know, in like telling you where like, if you like me, the Saint Louis.

00:51:39:13 - 00:51:55:07
Unknown
And they're so excited to tell you they're from Saint Louis, tell you about the history show, you know, so, that's really important. But, you feel it, I feel it, I feel like you can't go hungry here or you can't go, like, without too long. If you're not going to be out in the cold like people take you in.

00:51:55:07 - 00:52:14:18
Unknown
Oh, for sure, maybe you don't want that. Maybe it's a little bit weird, but, like, they I mean, we've been in Missouri now for a little while, and I have dear friends from Missouri and Texas and I think getting food, I mean, I we there's probably, the best people I know. Yeah. I don't think I fully understood it till I got here and I recognize like, oh, that's just the thing here.

00:52:14:20 - 00:52:33:20
Unknown
Like, people want to make sure you're good, you know, and they're not going to leave you stranded. You know, whatever those things are. Yeah. I am hoping that more Americans and their dog, your dog goes longer, farther here. Yeah. You know, I just hope more Americans give the Midwest and just middle America dry because it's also fun. It's gorgeous out here, too.

00:52:33:20 - 00:52:57:09
Unknown
I think that's the other thing. And some folks, I think it's like, plain flat fields and there is that. Yeah, but there's so much room to stretch. I don't know, you just feel like you're not suffocating. Yeah. You know, and I think that I love that y'all are here and not at one of the other folks, because I think, in a way, we probably need more folks like you, like PK like to kind of encourage folks like you can also do something.

00:52:57:10 - 00:53:18:16
Unknown
It's on par with, hi. You know, whether they call like a fashionable industry that ends up having something that's got that really high level of taste and stuff and can still be in Casserole America. Yeah. Cancer. You know, I've never heard that term. I just made it up. I like I like it, honestly. I'm proud of that. Right.

00:53:18:20 - 00:53:47:12
Unknown
Yeah. No it's kind of I, I do think that's part of the, the charm about this place. It's just people are warm. And I think for hopefully Americans that are maybe considering where to go, it's it is such a, I mean and then also like without saying like it is still a the amount of like commerce that is here, you know, like there's still like that intellectual component to it, which I think is, is like a special part of Saint Louis and like the education like some of, you know, we have some of the best in class institutions here.

00:53:47:12 - 00:54:14:13
Unknown
But, yeah, it's interesting. Like, I never I never thought, why wouldn't I, you know, and so it's interesting, there have been a lot of people that are surprised the peaks here. And I can't imagine building it anywhere. Anywhere else. It's home. Yeah. Yeah. Well, Lindsay, thanks for all you do. Not only with PK and with,

00:54:14:15 - 00:54:42:03
Unknown
Being an advocate of Midwest values and, you know, just being an example of that. But really, I do think it's not a surprise to me that good people, when good people, you know, are out there, you and Charles and the PK team here, we get to meet everybody are just good people. And I think that you all being a shining example for other Americans, just to kind of step into the arena and give it a go, is something that's maybe as inspiring, if not more inspiring than the product that y'all sell is just seeing that.

00:54:42:03 - 00:54:53:19
Unknown
So thanks for being you and thanks for all y'all do. Thank you. Thank you guys for coming and getting like we love getting to share the PK story. And I so appreciate that. Y'all have a great one. Thank you. Thanks, Lindsay.

00:54:53:19 - 00:55:19:12
Unknown
Thanks for tuning in to the American Operator Podcast, where we celebrate the backbone of America small business owners and operators like you. If you've enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss out on more of these stories and insights from people who keep our community strong. Until next time, keep building, keep operating, and keep America moving forward.