In “Small Starts,” our hosts Emilie Gonzalez and Elizabeth Dedos discuss the hardships of running a small business in a post-pandemic environment. During the COVID-19 crisis, many people laid off from work turned to starting their own companies from the ground up for an income, taking an already competitive market to new extremes. To make matters worse, the rise in popularity for platforms such as Amazon, Temu, TikTok Shop, and more that promote convenience over quality have meant these smaller businesses have had to work harder than ever before to stay in the game.

 

In episode 1, Gonzalez interviews Rey Alvarez, the owner of Sama Construction. The general contractor speaks on the struggles of being overworked, having inconsistent jobs and pay, and dealing with opposition in the field.

 

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