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I sat down with Al Doan, founder of the Missouri Star Quilt Company, and the guy is just electric. We talked about how he turned his mom’s love of quilting into a massive business that transformed the tiny town of Hamilton, Missouri. What started as a small quilt shop and some YouTube tutorials eventually became a retail empire with 16 quilt stores, restaurants, a hotel, a magazine, and a whole lot more. Al's vision didn’t just grow the business, he's also bought up nearly the entire downtown district to create what he calls a "Disneyland for quilters."
Toward the end, we bounce around some really creative business ideas, especially ones you could launch in small towns that most people overlook.
You can find Al on Twitter and Instagram as @DrBillNye. Check out his company at missouriquiltco.com and their deals site at quiltersdailydeal.com.
Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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00:00 The Quilting Capital of the World
03:00 Building a Quilting Empire
05:49 Creating Unique Shopping Experiences
09:10 The Power of Content and Community
12:00 Navigating Early Challenges
14:51 Inflection Points in Business Growth
17:47 Owning a Town: The Hamilton Story
21:12 The Future of Small Town Businesses
25:25 Transforming Small Towns into Destinations
32:06 Building Unique Experiences Around Hobbies
37:20 Unexpected Successes in Business Ventures
40:14 Innovative Home Services Business Ideas
45:51 Reimagining Small Town Economies
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