Episode list

Tameka Jones turned her dream into a reality when she started a lipstick business, empowering women to feel beautiful in their own skin. Will help from the experts at Deluxe, alongside a leader in the beauty industry, make this startup a legit contender?

The construction of a new interstate divided the Rondo community in St. Paul, Minnesota in the 1950s. The owners of Taste of Rondo are working to bring their community back to its vibrant roots, but startup woes and full-time jobs are holding them back.

In 1966, Elsa Rezene brought her entrepreneurial spirit to Minnesota from Eritrea, Africa. Before founding the longest-running black-owned furniture business in Minneapolis-St. Paul, she honed her sales craft offering beads, incense and jewelry. A generation later, Tetra carries on his mother's legacy, treating customers like family by embracing the lost art of customer service. While trends come and go, operations have remained the same at Elsa's - sometimes creating liabilities to the bottom line. To help Tetra navigate the realities of a changing industry, Deluxe called on Maurice Blanks, co-founder and COO of Blu Dot, an award-winning furniture and design company based in Minneapolis. In addition to Maurice's expertise, the team from Deluxe aims to create a new look for Elsa's brand across all customer touch points within the store, online and delivery. See how Tetra and team react to the suggested changes, as this beloved neighborhood store maneuvers through its biggest transformation ever.

Since 2012, Sammy's Avenue Eatery has been proudly providing the North Minneapolis community with good conversation and much-needed healthy options for dining out. With his personal savings and inspiration from his grandmother, owner Sammy McDowell opened his first shop and hasn't looked back, adding a second location in Northeast Minneapolis, a food truck, and a soon-to-open food hall. But as expansion plans continue to roll out, Sammy knows he's at a point where systems and structure will need more consistency. To support Sammy's vision for growth, Deluxe brought in Daren Hawthorne and Ryan Cross, the leadership team from the iconic New York City-based chain, Golden Krust. With over 100 Caribbean restaurants and retail products in some of the largest grocers in the U.S., Daren and Ryan share how they bring consistency and rigor to managing operations. Meanwhile, the Deluxe team brings a fun twist to Sammy's branding and online presence, leaning into the goodness his establishment brings to the community. Watch the unveiling of the new and improved Sammy's Avenue Eatery.