Tag: Covid

Sonie Skogerson’s Journey on Building a Business with Heart & Hustle (Ep. 100)

Sonie Skogerson’s Journey on Building a Business with Heart & Hustle (Ep. 100)

In this inspiring and relatable episode, Evan Wohl chats with Sonie Skogerson, a Budget Blinds franchise owner who turned a leap of faith into a thriving business. Sonie shares how she launched her window treatment company with minimal training, the value of early marketing hustle, and how her love for fabric and design fueled her first projects.

She dives deep into the support system provided by the franchise, including a strong coaching culture that evolves as your business grows. From tackling early challenges like cash flow and closing rates to navigating tariffs and scaling with the help of community and peer groups, Sonie highlights the power of mentorship, consistency, and social media—especially Instagram—as key drivers of success.

This conversation is packed with valuable takeaways for any entrepreneur, especially those navigating franchise ownership, marketing on a budget, and building a referral-based business.

Key takeaways:

  • The unique impact of a support system within a franchise network [00:08:13]
  • The transition from corporate fashion to entrepreneurship and the role of social media in marketing [00:01:49]
  • Tried and tested strategies for generating referrals [00:21:45]
  • An inside look into the essential support networks and business coaching that fuel her growth [00:13:55]

Connect with Evan Wohl:

Connect with Sonie Skogerson:

About Our Guest:

Sonie is a veteran of the fashion industry, having spent over 10 years crisscrossing North America and the globe for some of the biggest names in luxury sportswear.  She brings her energy, keen eye for quality, design, and detail, and an approachable design style to every personal consultation with Budget Blinds.  Sonie is an expert at understanding your needs and helping you express your own individual style without going over your budget.  She is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design and has studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the London College of Fashion.  Sonie owns three Budget Blinds Franchises in Northern New Jersey & has been covering windows for over 12 years. She is a mother of three and an avid downhill skier.

What to Consider When Planning Your International Flight with Rob Karp and Henry Kamp

What to Consider When Planning Your International Flight with Rob Karp and Henry Kamp

How can you maximize your vacation and travel experience before you even leave the country?

In this episode, Iván Watanabe and Evan Wohl are joined by Rob Karp, founder and CEO, and Henry Kamp, head of Air Sales and Operations at MilesAhead, in sharing their knowledge of the travel industry and how to gain the most from your flight experience.

Rob and Henry discuss:

  • How the pandemic increased the cost of travel while negatively impacting the experience
  • Why travel so important to people
  • How to ease your flight with a baby
  • Tips to getting through customs and onto the plane faster and easier
  • And more

Resource:

Connect with Iván Watanabe:

Connect with Evan Wohl:

Connect with Rob Karp:

Connect with Henry Kamp:

About Our Guests:

Rob Karp is the Founder and CEO of MilesAhead. A graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration (‘19), Rob was named one of Travel + Leisure’s International Rising Stars in 2017 and a finalist for Virtuoso’s Rising Star award in 2019. Rob first founded MilesAhead as a sophomore in high school, initially helping family and friends efficiently use their frequent flyer miles for plane tickets. Over time, MilesAhead has evolved into a full-scale luxury hospitality company that works with a discerning group of clients.

As the Head of Air Sales and Operations, Henry Kamp ensures that all of our clients’ journeys are as pleasant as the destination. Although Henry focuses primarily on air travel, he plays a pivotal role in all travel bookings, handling everything from finding last-minute rental cars to identifying the perfect hotel.