This program began as a variety show, with Kunle Oguneye, author of the children's book Sikulu and Harambe, Ram Dutt, founder of the ecomm platform Meylah, and Patricia Lecy Davis, owner of the Embellish salon (who joined us by phone). We came to the realization that they had more in common than we originally thought -- that they all rely on their communities for their survival, especially in lean times. We're not just talking social media. Hear how they're making it and even finding ways to support each other in this surprisingly connected interview.

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On our December 8th show, we talked about advances in manufacturing driven by new technologies. We continue the discussion with Chuck Pettis, Marketing VP at Makerbot -- just one of the companies making 3D printing more widely available. He's also the founder's Dad, so we asked him what Bre Pettis, Makerbot's founder, was like as a kid. We also talked about the company's new retail store in New York where visitors can get 3D models made of their faces -- while they wait.

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According to Andrew Kinzer, Cofounder of GroupTalent, and Charina Flores, VP of Human Resources Operations at the Barbelo Group, when it comes to landing a gig, the tried and true still works -- especially for industries that are hot, like high tech, security, mobile and healthcare. Get to know the right people, have a keyword-smart resume and a spiffy LinkedIn profile, and use the same websites employers do. They also had a lot to say about:

• What employers are really looking for today
  
• How to best prepare to leave the corporate world for consulting
  
• Tips for getting on Microsoft's supplier list
  
• The difference between various freelance sites like GitHub and Odesk
  
• The cost of tech talent
• How cash-strapped businesses can attract employees
  

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Developing an app isn't easy. Hundreds of decisions about what to create and features to include are made every day. 

In this interview, Adam Tratt of Giant Thinkwell and maker of Haiku Deck, meets JP Werlin of Pipeline Deals. Each rivals the market leaders in their respective categories, presentation and customer relationship management (CRM) software. Haiku Deck is a startup, Pipeline Deals has been around for 6 years. They're opposites in many ways, yet when it comes to dealing with startup and growth issues, they have a lot in common: 

• Nailing the CROI (Consumer Return on Investment)
  
• How to "productize" best practices into an app
• Finding developers
  
• The importance of treating customers right
  
• Cash flow, and yes, even cats
  

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Few would consider Seattle to be a fashion capitol, but our guests, Theresa Olson (Motovista), Steven Matsumoto (Seattle Fashion Incubator), Angelica Buri (Angelica Buri Designs) and Kort Havens (Built for Man), are trying to change all that. We also explore what it takes to make it in the fashion business here, from putting together a line to finding the right location for a boutique. 

Also on the program, we try to define the Seattle look by its influences -- music culture, Microsoft, the weather...or the idea that it's beyond definition and it's really anything you want it to be.

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Scilla Andreen didn't start out as a film producer, director, or CEO and Co-Founder of IndieFlix, an independent film distribution company. She began her career in costume design -- and almost by accident. 

With companies like SnagFilms getting millions of dollars in funding, online distribution is big news and big business these days. That wasn't the case when Scilla started her business in 2005, with the simple idea that filmmakers should get a piece of the pie. In this interview Scilla talks about her road to success and what she's doing to make that happen.

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Developing products that sell well at retail is no easy task. Sometimes there's the willingness to take a risk. At other times, the determination to invest in what you think is worthwhile.

One thing we learned from our guests, Lori and Llance Kezner of GarLic It and Becky Morrette of Sunday Drive Designs, is that creating successful products is personal.

• Why the Kezner's got into business for themselves
  
• The path from manufacturing 24 units of GarLic It to commercial quantities
• How a blog post turned a potato into a bestseller for Sunday Drive Designs

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Casual Connect Seattle is taking place this week. It's the premier event for the casual gaming industry.

A couple of brothers, Iain and Gavin McConnon, have created Boxpay, a service designed to help monetize one of the biggest areas for growth in gaming -- mobile. The service gives developers the ability to easily integrate global carrier billing into their games, while giving players a fast and frictionless payment experience.

They started several businesses before creating Boxpay in 2011, and they've got four offices around the world. Hear their story and how a couple of guys from Dublin, Ireland are getting along in this massively competitive space.

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Bonnie Cashman didn't have to keep working after retiring, but when she got bitten by the pilates bug she couldn't help but open her own studio in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Lab 5 Fitness was born only a few years ago at the height of the recession and is thriving.

Not every passion turns a profit, and not every marriage lasts as long as theirs, especially when you've worked together so long, yet Bonnie and her husband are still going strong in business and in life.

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Working together isn't new, but these two new business models are. Staging & Design Network is bringing together a community that hasn't worked collaboratively in the past to share valuable resources. Founder Tricia Tomlinson explains how it will change the way stagers, real estate agents and suppliers work together. Sharon Rowley handles communications for SDN, and she talks about the importance of building a community -- and how she's doing it.

Booktrope is a profit-sharing model filling the gap between traditional and self publishing. Our guest, Katherine Sears explains it as the funnel, the flood and the filter. It's a unique model that gives authors a fighting chance at selling books, and readers the opportunity to connect with them.

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A serious record collector and a music expert walk into a bar...or should we say a new store in Kirkland. Daren Compton and David Chadwick recently opened Vortex Music and Movies, and they took time out from a busy Saturday to share with us why vinyl is making a comeback and their belief in local retail as it struggles to survive against online and mobile shopping.

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For Mother's Day, we featured several entrepreneurs who are making a difference. Hear Jace Lieberman of Biking Billboards describe how he and his Mom, Andrea, are helping local businesses get the word out. Susan Lowery, creator of The MotrB is keeping babies warm from here to Newfoundland. And Tina Ramirez, Co-Owner of Mama Luvs, is saving the planet one baggie at a time.

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Jim Demonakos, originator of Emerald City Comicon, joined us to talk about everything from why the show attracts 40,000 attendees to his "nerd rock band" touring Australia. He also shares his thoughts on the market segments that make up the Comicon genre, why nerds are into comics and what makes Seattle such a "nerd-friendly" place.

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St. Patrick's Day is big in the U.S. Eight in ten will wear green -- an entrepreneur's favorite color. The total spend for the holiday is about $4.6 billion.

Whiskey is integral to the day, so we thought we'd speak with Jan Morris, who is starting a craft whiskey distillery in Hoodsport, WA. Hear all the details about the paperwork, build out, financing and more. Plus, our discussion about the Washington State public auction of 167 state liquor stores, which began this week.

Note: Your equipment isn't malfunctioning. We experienced technical difficulties while recording the final segment of the show.

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Even in this digital age, there are some toys that just last. Take Play-doh, for instance. Hear the story about how this product came about, tech toy clips from the 109th American International Toy Fair and scenes from the documentary Toyland. It's a movie about how toys are invented.

Susan Chace of HoopDelite and Kari Erickson-Valenzuela of Mama K's Aromatic Play Clay are crafty masters of reinvention, but on a startup scale. Listen to their stories of how they have made old products new again on this show about reinvention, repurposing and rethinking.

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Valentine's Day is almost here and you know what they say. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage. And after that, business ideas to help Moms with their little charges – at least for Mompreneurs like Sari Crevin. She's the inventor of a successful line of products to help parents make their lives easier.

She’s not alone. The market for infant and kids products has exploded. According to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, U.S. wholesale revenue for prenatal through preschool items, not counting clothing and food, has grown to almost $3 billion. Hear Sari tell her story of how she is grabbing her share of the market, from when she bought her first sewing machine to selling into some of the biggest retailers in the country.

Also on this week's show, a new website from the SBA, the interactive media industry and the app economy in Seattle.

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Rebecca Partman of COO2Go talks about the importance of systems for time management. Jeff Siglin of Eagle Rider of Seattle shares his joy in owning and operating a motorcycle rental franchise.

Also hear about the latest investments and acquisitions in couponing site Pirq and email service Roost. Also, a story on word of mouth marketing and its relation to social media.

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Guests David Dallaire of Fennec Consulting and Alan Regala of ShelfGenie of Seattle join Robbin to discuss product development, what it means to go from your own company to a franchise, and why branding is still relevant -- even for the smallest businesses. The show opens with an update about the new tolls on the 520 Bridge and tips for keeping your creative juices flowing.

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Guests Art Torelli of Electronic Processing Consultants and Food Pedalers, and Betsy McFeely of Seattle Goodwill, talk about merchant accounts, what it takes to run a bicycle food delivery service and how one of the biggest non-profits supports itself through retail.

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It's time for holiday shopping period, so our debut show is all about retail business. Featured guests include Steve Naramore of Sip and Ship, Miriam Works of Works Consulting and Tammy James of Ventures. You'll hear ideas on marketing, merchandising, opening stores, expanding to second locations, and more.

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