Amy Calandrino’s Post

Another long-time client success. We met in Santa Fe Springs when I was attending the University of Southern California's MBA and MRED program and working the Mid County markets in the mornings and afternoons before being in DTLA at night for class. These guys were in 10,000 SF in a 4-building business park where I had already worked with a cosmetics company on their lease renewal. Here, we have renewed them twice already over the last ten years. Renewals are a funny game in that, as a tenant, you want a fair deal, and you sometimes need leverage to get that fair deal. How much leverage can you get when the landlord knows you will stay? Some brokers like to play poker and create alternative scenarios where moving to another property better fulfills the tenant's long-term objectives. Some brokers scour the globe for below-market lease comps and press the landlord to price match. It's all about what strategy is best in that size range, geography, with that tenant, and that landlord. It is a never-ending game of Rubix Cube. This client is an entrepreneur who has a new business line and, as such, needs a new business space. As with many start-ups, flexibility is critical to making a sublease attractive. Here, we get a favorable rate and shorter term to ensure we are the correct size. Then, we can go directly with Rexford Industrial when ready to sign on long-term. Grant La Bounty Chris Vassilian #sublease #downey #entrepreneur

Wanted to give a shoutout to my friend Carolyn Jacobs Bartley, MPH for going fulltime with her business Luxo Executive Rentals - Worcester, MA! We caught up over coffee last week and the conversation was awesome. Carolyn and I go back to late December 2023 when we first connected over a phone call. I learned that she started a short term rental business with her husband Anthony Bartley, MD while still working at UMass. I was excited by this business because it served an extremley niche market with high demands. From what I understood, they were targeting at companies and executives who were looking to book an extended, short term stays in Worcester. Whether it's a work visit, conference or even something like looking at local colleges and universities, their business can take care of you. For those who get it, living in a hotel for 2-4 weeks *can* be miserable. Their business model seeks to address this by creating a comfortable "home away from home" for people conducting their business in the area. Time went on and their property count started increasing, as well as the demand for them. Carolyn decided made the jump into full time entrepreneurship to handle the increasing needs of the business. This prompted our second meeting you can see here at my favorite spot - Fuel America. What we walked away with? The massive opportunities here in Worcester. The amazing people and things you can do in the city. The potential oozing from every corner. The challenge? No talks about it enough. No one shares their best kept secrets. There is no unified marketing or branding voice/push that elevates our city to where it needs to be. That's where our brainstorming session began and the passion that came alongside it. Worcester can and will reach it's full potential, but it's gonna require ambitious and innovative people to step up to the plate. Meetings like these are my favorite - it's incredible what can happen when like minded folks come together to evoke change. A fruitful relationship that will evolve and grow with time. Once again, huge shoutout to Carolyn Jacobs Bartley, MPH and Anthony Bartley, MD for their continued success with Luxo Executive Rentals - Worcester, MA. I'm confident their business will continue to make this city great. #entrepreneuship #foundersjourney #worcester

Recently I was asked when I knew I wanted to expand Joli Residential to offer luxury moving services. The answer was simple: when my clients asked! My team and I had been providing home concierge services to a client for years. This gentleman was always on the move (no pun intended). He had homes in multiple states and a demanding job that kept him very busy. He asked if we could manage his upcoming move and right there the scope expanded. That first project exposed a hole in the move service market that I knew Joli Residential could fill. I realized that the skills and attention-to-detail required for home management transfer seamlessly to move management. Our goal has always been to help families with all aspects of their home. Expanding to include move management simply opened the door to more people we could help. Jeff Bezos said, “What's dangerous is to not evolve." Regardless of what you think of Bezos, it's true. Client's needs change, technology changes, businesses change—that's half the fun! It never gets boring when you are constantly evolving. How have you evolved your business since day one? #entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #businessgrowth #clientservices

From Fired to $400k/Month! Check out this incredible success story of Kyle, who went from losing his job to building a thriving remodeling business generating $400k per month! His journey is a testament to resilience and determination. Learn how he scaled his company and the strategies he used to achieve his goals. 👉 Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/dPAZAQBh #SuccessStory #Entrepreneurship #Remodeling #RealEstateInvesting

Building So Southern Belle has been a journey unlike any other. 🌟 From the initial idea 💡 to the countless hours spent perfecting our products and branding, it has been a labor of love and determination. 💪 The road hasn't always been easy, with setbacks and challenges along the way, but every obstacle has only made us stronger and more determined to succeed. 💥 As we continue to grow and expand our business, I am constantly reminded of the hard work and dedication that has gone into building the So Southern Belle brand. 🌺 From sourcing the finest ingredients to creating unique and eye-catching packaging, every detail has been carefully thought out and executed with passion and precision. 💖 Despite the struggles and setbacks, I know that the journey of building So Southern Belle is worth every moment. The satisfaction of seeing our products on shelves and hearing positive feedback from satisfied customers is truly rewarding. 🌿 I have no doubt that when the time is right, Southern Belle will flourish and provide beyond my wildest dreams. 🌈 So to all the aspiring entrepreneurs out there, I encourage you to never give up on your dreams. Building a business from the ground up is not easy, but with hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible. Trust in the journey and believe in the power of your brand. The rewards will come, and they will be plentiful. 🙌🌟🚀

Meet Jay Villemarette – founder & CEO of Oklahoma Ponds, a dedicated business owner who is serious about building a business that can run without him! We’ve been working together for a very short amount of time now to create a strategy to take his company, Oklahoma Ponds, which provides koi pond installation/maintenance and water features, to the next level. Today, I couldn't be prouder of what he has achieved! 🙌💼 This picture is of Jay and I meeting up on a recent weekend at one of the biggest Home & Garden shows in our region. Every small business owner dreams of having the resources to have a booth at shows of this magnitude! Taking your business to new heights requires dedication, countless hours of hard work, and the ability to seize opportunities when they arise. Jay is doing just that!! With determination, he is implementing strategies, embracing change, creating and implementing systems/processes, and taking bold actions to build a thriving business that can run without him. To all small business owners out there feeling overwhelmed, remember that success is not achieved overnight. It's about staying committed, seeking guidance, and taking action, just like Jay. Let's chat if your business is stuck or if you want to own a business that works without you. Schedule here https://lnkd.in/gG8m4b9x. Don't hesitate to reach out for support. Together, let's make your dreams a reality for your company, just like Jay is doing with Oklahoma Ponds! #OklahomaPonds #JayVillemarette #SmallBusinessSuccess #BusinessCoaching #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurLife #SuccessStories #SmallBusinessInspiration #HardWorkPaysOff #BusinessMentorship #BusinessTips #ScalingBusiness #BusinessGoals #BusinessStrategy #BusinessAchievements #CoachingJourney

I remember being a kid and building a sandcastle that was too close to the ocean, only to have the surf come and prematurely demolish it. (Check out the real sand castle I built below, which is definitely not AI-generated, btw). I would then frantically try to rebuild it but add a moat to divert the water only to have the next set of waves come in and ruin it even more. I realized that if it was me against the tide, the tide was always going to win eventually. The push and pull of markets and the economy are a lot like these waves. There are times when the waters are calm, and you can build and run a business without too much headache. The market is bullish. But then, inevitably, the tide comes and everything turns upside-down. This is when everyone gets to see which businesses were just fluff, and which were smart. As Warren Buffet put it: “You don’t find out who’s been swimming naked until the tide goes out.” A pivotal moment in my life was when I decided that instead of going out to try and build a figurative sandcastle by myself from scratch, I was instead going to learn from the best. I would work with and be mentored by those who had already professionally crafted many sand palaces, learn their strategies, and emulate their patterns. That’s what franchising does for people. It allows you to take part in the upside of owning a business without having to face all the harsh downsides of starting from scratch. I love helping entrepreneurs on this road! #franocity #franchising #entrepreneurship #business #wealth #failure #success #growth #economy #risk #mentor

I’d love to share this great article about doing business in Florida, focusing on the top 10 cities: Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, and Pembroke Pines. Whether you're looking to start a new venture or expand an existing one, this guide offers valuable insights and practical tips for navigating the diverse business landscapes of these vibrant cities. From the bustling energy of Miami to the charming appeal of Tallahassee, you'll find all the information you need to make informed decisions and achieve success in Florida's thriving economy. Check it out and discover the opportunities that await you in the Sunshine State!

Meet Jay Villemarette – founder & CEO of Oklahoma Ponds, a dedicated business owner who is serious about building a business that can run without him! We’ve been working together for a very short amount of time now to create a strategy to take his company, Oklahoma Ponds, which provides koi pond installation/maintenance and water features, to the next level. Today, I couldn't be prouder of what he has achieved! 🙌💼 This picture is of Jay and I meeting up on a recent weekend at one of the biggest Home & Garden shows in our region. Every small business owner dreams of having the resources to have a booth at shows of this magnitude! Taking your business to new heights requires dedication, countless hours of hard work, and the ability to seize opportunities when they arise. Jay is doing just that!! With determination, he is implementing strategies, embracing change, creating and implementing systems/processes, and taking bold actions to build a thriving business that can run without him. To all small business owners out there feeling overwhelmed, remember that success is not achieved overnight. It's about staying committed, seeking guidance, and taking action, just like Jay. Let's chat if your business is stuck or if you want to own a business that works without you. Schedule here https://lnkd.in/gbEUUE_c. Don't hesitate to reach out for support. Together, let's make your dreams a reality for your company, just like Jay is doing with Oklahoma Ponds! #OklahomaPonds #JayVillemarette #SmallBusinessSuccess #BusinessCoaching #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurLife #SuccessStories #SmallBusinessInspiration #HardWorkPaysOff #BusinessMentorship #BusinessTips #ScalingBusiness #BusinessGoals #BusinessStrategy #BusinessAchievements #CoachingJourney

Exciting times in Glastonbury, CT with the opening of various new businesses! Amidst all the hustle, it's easy to overlook key elements like concrete strategies. How strong is your strategic foundation? Are you overlooking vital aspects of your concrete industry-related strategy? As a Strategic Consultant, I work with numerous business owners and entrepreneurs who initially overlook this arena, only to learn the tremendous impact it can have on their success. Are you doing everything to ensure your business stands strong, or are there lingering uncertainties? Consider this - your business is as robust as the strategy you build it on. But are you making the most out of your strategy? Do you need support navigating obstacles in the concrete industry? Reflect on your approach and feel free to reach out. Let’s build a foundation so solid that your business not only stands firm amidst its competition, but thrives. Remember, a solid strategy is the bedrock of any successful venture. Let's talk and grow your ventures together. #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #GlastonburyBusiness