Small Town Stories | Local Business Marketing, Small Town Business, Entrepreneurship

Jan Ditchfield | Small Business Marketing Strategist & Small Town Business Entrepreneur
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  • Entrepreneurship

Are you trying to grow a small town business while feeling like most entrepreneurship advice was never designed for the reality of local business? Do you ever wonder why some Main Street businesses become thriving community staples while others struggle to stay visible in a world that’s changing faster than ever? And are you craving more honest conversations about what it actually takes to build something meaningful in a small town today — from marketing and creativity to reinvention, tourism, leadership, and community? If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place! Welcome to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Streets across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we’re diving into conversations about local business marketing, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building a small town business in today’s modern world. I’m Jan Ditchfield — top-ranked podcast host, marketer, entrepreneur, and longtime storyteller. After spending years building businesses and working in marketing, media, and online entrepreneurship, I eventually found myself back in the small town where I grew up: Merrickville, Ontario. And what I realized very quickly is this... small town business works differently. The relationships are different. The visibility challenges are different. Reputation matters differently. Word of mouth matters differently. And yet most business advice completely ignores the nuance of what it takes to grow a local business in a tight-knit community. That’s why I created this show! Inside the podcast, you’ll hear interviews with entrepreneurs, founders, creatives, shop owners, community builders, tourism leaders, and the people shaping modern small town life today. You’ll also hear solo episodes where I break down the marketing strategies, customer experience ideas, local branding lessons, and business insights that help small businesses stand out and grow sustainably. We talk about everything from local tourism and community-driven growth to small business marketing, creativity, entrepreneurship, customer loyalty, destination businesses, and what it really means to build a business people want to keep coming back to. So whether you own a storefront, run a service-based business, dream of opening something one day, or simply love the culture and character behind Main Street businesses, I’m so glad you’re here. Hit follow, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us every Thursday for new conversations about the people, places, and strategies shaping small towns today. And if you want to connect beyond the podcast, you can visit thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com and follow along on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast for guest announcements, behind-the-scenes updates, and more stories from small towns across North America.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    09: Rural Entrepreneurship Reimagined | How One Farmstand Owner Built Her Dream

    What if the biggest obstacle to rural entrepreneurship isn't a lack of opportunity—but the belief that small towns can't support big dreams? While many people wait for certainty before they begin, Kirstin Levy, the founder of Rustic Roots Farmstand, chose to start with what she had: a roadside farm stand, homemade bread, and a desire to serve her community. That simple decision grew into a thriving farmstand business in Jasper, Ontario that's rooted in purpose, craftsmanship, and connection. Success didn't come from having a business degree or a perfect plan. It came from learning one skill at a time, embracing small business marketing, building authentic relationships, and trusting the process. From mastering sourdough baking to growing a loyal customer base through word of mouth, her journey offers a refreshing perspective on rural entrepreneurship and what it really takes to build a meaningful small town business. Along the way, you'll hear why community matters more than competition, how serving people creates lasting customer loyalty, and why defining success on your own terms can be the most powerful business strategy of all. Whether you're exploring entrepreneurship, launching a rural business, expanding a local business, or looking for inspiration as a Canadian entrepreneur or one of many women entrepreneurs, this conversation is packed with practical insights and encouragement. It's not about chasing rapid growth—it's about creating something people genuinely value. And this is where rural entrepreneurship becomes more than a business model; it becomes a way of strengthening communities, preserving traditions, and building a life with intention. If you've been waiting for the perfect moment to begin, this conversation may be the reminder you need that rural entrepreneurship starts with taking the very first step. Follow Rustic Roots on Facebook >>>  If you enjoyed today's conversation, follow Small Town Stories, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone building something meaningful in their own community. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  2. Jul 9

    08: I Thought I Was Making a Small Town Business Podcast. I Was Wrong.

    What if the story you thought you were telling was never the story you were actually discovering? When I first started Small Town Stories, I thought I was creating a podcast about small town business. I imagined conversations about entrepreneurship, the remarkable people building businesses in small communities, and what inspires someone to invest in a place where everyone knows their name. Then the messages started arriving. Some came from people who grew up in small towns. Others came from people who had never lived in one at all—but somehow still found themselves in these stories. That made me stop and ask a different question. If these conversations are connecting with people regardless of where they live, what are they really about? As I looked back on each conversation, I realized we always began by talking about business, but we rarely stayed there. Whether the conversation centred on a coffee shop, an art gallery, or the future of a growing community, the common thread was never simply small town business. It was people choosing to invest in a place. This reflection explores why local entrepreneurship is about far more than opening a business, how small business owners quietly strengthen the communities around them, and why small town businesses become gathering places long before they're simply places to shop. We also consider what small business growth looks like when success is measured not only by revenue, but by relationships, trust, and the willingness to keep showing up. Maybe we've become so focused on being known by strangers that we've forgotten the value of being known by our neighbours. Whether you're passionate about small town business, interested in small town entrepreneurship, or simply enjoy authentic small town stories, I hope this conversation leaves you thinking a little differently about the places we choose to invest our time, our energy, and ourselves. Maybe communities aren't built through extraordinary moments. Maybe they're built through thousands of ordinary ones. If you're enjoying Small Town Stories, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people shaping communities across Canada and beyond. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  3. Jul 2

    07: The Growth Conversation Every Small Town Is Having

    When does growth stop being about building and start becoming about belonging? Every small town eventually reaches a moment when the future begins knocking at its door. New families arrive. New businesses open. New homes are proposed. Change becomes inevitable. The harder question isn't whether communities should grow. It's how they grow. Because every decision shapes something larger than the landscape itself. It shapes the people who live there, the businesses that serve them, and the character that quietly makes a place feel like home. That question sits at the heart of this conversation with Nick Previsich, a longtime public servant whose passion for community led him to help organize one of the largest public conversations about growth his village has seen in years. What unfolds is a thoughtful discussion about the choices every community eventually faces. Nick shares why looking at individual development projects isn't enough, why public participation matters, and how thoughtful planning can help communities prepare for change without losing sight of what makes them unique. Along the way, we explore the relationship between housing, infrastructure, local leadership, and the people whose everyday decisions quietly shape the future of a community. We talk about why listening may be one of the most valuable planning tools we have, and why the strongest communities aren't built by resisting change—but by helping guide it. For anyone interested in small town business growth, small town entrepreneur success, local entrepreneurship, or small business growth, there are meaningful lessons here about the connection between thriving businesses and thriving communities. The conversation also explores small town businesses, how to grow a business responsibly, and why healthy small town markets depend on thoughtful decisions that consider the whole community, not just individual projects. Because the future of a small town is rarely decided by one development. It's shaped by thousands of conversations, small decisions, and people willing to believe their voice still matters. Whether you're passionate about community building, interested in small town entrepreneurship, or simply enjoy hearing authentic small town stories, this conversation is a reminder that growth isn't something that happens to a community. It's something a community chooses to shape together. If you're enjoying Small Town Stories, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people shaping communities across Canada and beyond. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  4. Jun 25

    06: The Hidden Reason That Keeps People Coming Back to Small Town Businesses

    For most of us, customer service and hospitality probably sound like the same thing. I certainly thought they were. But after hearing one simple idea on another podcast a few weeks ago, I haven't been able to stop thinking about the difference. The more I travel through small towns and spend time with local business owners, the more convinced I become that people don't always remember what they bought. They remember how a place made them feel. They remember the conversations, the welcome they received, and the feeling that someone was genuinely glad they walked through the door. That simple shift—from customer service to hospitality—has me looking at small town businesses in a completely different way. Maybe the businesses that become part of a community aren't simply the ones with the best products or the best marketing. Maybe they're the ones that quietly create a sense of belonging, one interaction at a time. It's also made me wonder if the same thing is true for our communities. We spend so much time talking about tourism, economic development, and ways to grow a business, but perhaps the real question is much simpler: when people arrive, how do we make them feel? Because feeling welcomed is often what brings people back. I'd love to know what you think. If this conversation sparked an idea for you, I'd be so grateful if you'd subscribe, leave a review, and share Small Town Stories with someone who loves the people and places that make small towns so memorable. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  5. Jun 18

    05: The Secret Behind a Small Town Business That Connects

    When did we stop having places where we simply belonged? Not home. Not work. Just somewhere in between. A place where someone knows your name, asks how your week has been, and notices when you haven't stopped by in a few days. In an increasingly digital world, those kinds of spaces feel rarer than they once did. We're more connected than ever, yet many people feel more isolated. We can order coffee through an app, work remotely, and spend entire days interacting through screens. But convenience and connection aren't always the same thing. That idea sits at the heart of this conversation with Robyn Fredrickson, owner of The Village Bean in Merrickville, Ontario. Fifteen years ago, after being laid off from a career in pharmaceutical sales, Robyn made a decision that would change the course of her life. She purchased a small town business in the community she had grown to love. What she couldn't have known at the time was that she wasn't simply buying a coffee shop. She was becoming the steward of one of the places where community happens. What unfolds is a thoughtful conversation about belonging, connection, and the role that local business owners play in shaping the communities around them. Robyn shares lessons learned from fifteen years behind the counter, where coffee orders are remembered, friendships are formed, and neighbours quietly show up for one another when it matters most. Along the way, we explore why some small town businesses become woven into the fabric of everyday life while others remain places people simply visit. We talk about community building, customer loyalty, human connection, and the often-overlooked value of creating spaces where people feel seen. For small business owners, small business entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in business entrepreneurship, there are powerful insights here about what truly drives long-term success. The conversation touches on small business marketing, small business visibility, small town entrepreneurship, and why meaningful relationships often become the strongest competitive advantage a local business can have. Because the businesses that leave the deepest mark on a community rarely do so because of what they sell. They do it because of how they make people feel. Whether you're interested in small town business growth, exploring new approaches to grow a business, or simply love hearing authentic small town stories, this conversation offers a reminder that connection may be one of the most valuable things any business can create. And perhaps that's the real secret behind a great small town business: it becomes more than a business at all. It becomes a place people feel belongs to them. If you're enjoying Small Town Stories, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show. Your support helps more people discover these conversations and the remarkable people shaping communities across Canada and beyond. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  6. Jun 11

    04: The Small Town Business Lesson Hidden in Community

    What if the things we notice first aren't actually the story? A few weeks ago, a simple email about backyard chickens sparked an unexpected conversation. While the chickens may have been the catalyst, what emerged was something much larger: the stories we attach to ordinary things, the assumptions we make about people and places, and the ways community quietly shapes our lives without us even realizing it. It's easy to look at a small town business and see only what's visible. The storefront. The sign. The products or services being offered. But the longer you spend paying attention, the more you realize that the real story is rarely found in the building itself. It's found in the people who choose to participate. This conversation explores why communities endure, why local businesses often become gathering places, and how belonging is built through countless ordinary decisions that rarely make headlines. From volunteers preserving local history to business owners unlocking their doors each morning, the strength of a community is often found in the people who keep showing up. Along the way, you'll hear reflections on local business marketing, small town entrepreneurship, and the role that connection plays in creating places people care about. It's a reminder that small business owners are often contributing far more than products and services. They're creating spaces where relationships form, conversations happen, and communities grow. For anyone interested in business entrepreneurship, community business marketing, or how to market local business in a way that feels authentic, there's a valuable lesson hidden here. The most meaningful forms of growth don't always show up in spreadsheets. Trust, reputation, and belonging can be harder to measure, but they often matter most. Maybe that's why small town stories resonate so deeply. They're not really about geography. They're about connection. They're about participation. They're about the universal desire to feel like we belong somewhere. And perhaps that's the lesson every small town business has to teach. Community isn't something that happens around us. It's something we build together. Visit the website and join the newsletter for more conversations, local business stories, and insights into the people shaping small towns across Canada, the United States, and beyond. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  7. Jun 4

    03: Why Some Small Businesses Are Impossible to Forget

    What makes certain businesses impossible to forget? Lately, it feels like we're all consuming the same advice, following the same trends, and watching businesses race to keep up with whatever the algorithm rewards next. And somewhere along the way, a lot of brands have started to look remarkably similar. But the businesses that stay with us rarely do so because they mastered a trend. They stay with us because of how they made us feel. That idea sits at the heart of this conversation with artist, entrepreneur, and Anarchy Gallery founder Angelina Wrona. After nearly two decades of building one of the most recognizable destinations in Merrickville, Ontario, Angelina shares what it really takes to create a business people remember. What unfolds is a thoughtful conversation about creativity, identity, and the courage to stay original in a world constantly encouraging us to blend in. From branding and customer experience to community connection and reinvention, Angelina offers a refreshing perspective on what drives lasting brand loyalty and sustainable growth for Small Businesses. Along the way, we talk about small business marketing, building trust in small town businesses, creating memorable customer experiences, and why the strongest local business stories often begin with authenticity. Because successful businesses aren't simply selling products. They're creating connection. Whether you're a small town entrepreneur, a creative business owner, or someone navigating the realities of local entrepreneurship, you'll find practical wisdom woven throughout this conversation. There are insights on local business strategy, small business visibility, community business marketing, and the often-overlooked role that identity plays in long-term success. Perhaps the biggest takeaway is this: the businesses people remember most aren't always the loudest. They're the ones that feel the most genuine. If you've ever wondered how to market local business without losing yourself in the process, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that originality isn't a liability—it's often the very thing people are looking for. Visit the website and join the newsletter for more conversations, local business stories, and insights into the people shaping small towns across Canada, the United States, and beyond. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  8. Jun 4

    02: What Nobody Tells You About Starting a Small Town Business

    Starting a small town business sounds simple enough until you're actually doing it. The storefront might be ready. The business plan might be finished. But what happens when your customers are also your neighbours, your reputation spreads faster than your marketing, and the success of your business depends as much on community relationships as it does on revenue? In this conversation, entrepreneur and economic development leader Yves Grandmaitre shares what decades of experience have taught him about building businesses in smaller communities. From navigating local dynamics to understanding visibility, trust, staffing, and community engagement, this discussion offers an honest look at what many first-time entrepreneurs don't see coming. We talk about why some small town businesses struggle despite strong ideas, how a small business owner can build credibility before opening their doors, and why relationship-building remains one of the most overlooked forms of local business marketing. Yves also shares insights on hiring challenges, tourism-based economies, community involvement, and the role of advocacy in long-term small town business growth. Whether you're a small business entrepreneur, a small town entrepreneur, or simply exploring local entrepreneurship, this conversation offers practical lessons for anyone hoping to grow a business in a smaller market. Because successful small town businesses aren't built in isolation. They're built through connection, trust, and understanding the community you're serving. If you're interested in small business marketing, small business visibility, local business stories, and the realities of building a small town business, you'll find plenty of valuable takeaways in this conversation. Visit our website for more episodes of Small Town Stories and join our newsletter for insights, resources, and conversations about entrepreneurship, community, and modern small-town life. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  9. Jun 4

    01: What Small Town Businesses Know That the Internet Forgot

    There’s something small town businesses understand that the internet seems to have forgotten. Not everything meaningful can be optimized. Not every relationship should move fast. And not every business is meant to scale at the speed the online world keeps demanding from us. Recorded in Merrickville, Ontario, this first conversation begins with a homecoming. After years spent building a career in marketing, podcasting, and online business, coming back to a small town revealed something unexpected: the way trust gets built here is completely different. Because small town entrepreneurship isn’t just about selling something. It’s about becoming part of people’s routines, memories, and everyday lives. It’s the coffee shop where someone knows your order before you say it out loud. The storefront that quietly becomes part of a family’s traditions. The familiar faces that make a place feel like home. And honestly, after years of living online, that slower rhythm can feel almost disorienting at first. This conversation weaves together identity, reinvention, motherhood, internet culture, and the complicated experience of returning to the place that raised you while realizing you’ve changed completely in the process. Along the way, it opens up bigger conversations around local entrepreneurship, local business marketing, and why local business stories matter now more than ever. Because while the online world keeps pushing for bigger, faster, louder… small town businesses still understand the power of trust, community, and relationships that are built slowly over time. And maybe that’s what so many people are craving right now. If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s another way to build a business, a life, or a community — this is a conversation you’ll want to settle into. Follow the show and join the newsletter to stay connected to future conversations exploring small town businesses, the people behind them, and the communities they help shape every single day. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  10. May 28

    Why Small Town Business Is Different Today | Small Town Stories Trailer

    Small town business is different — and after years of working in marketing, entrepreneurship, and online business, it’s something I didn’t fully understand until I moved back to the small village where I grew up. Welcome to Small Town Stories! I’m sharing the story behind why I created this podcast, what surprised me most about returning to small-town life, and why I believe we need more honest conversations about local business marketing, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building a small town business today. Because the truth is, most business advice was never designed for small towns. The way people discover businesses is different. The way word of mouth works is different. Reputation, community relationships, visibility, tourism, loyalty, and even growth itself all operate differently when you’re building something inside a tight-knit community. And yet so much of the entrepreneurship world completely overlooks that nuance. After spending years building businesses, working in media and marketing, and watching entrepreneurship evolve online, I came back to Merrickville, Ontario with a completely different perspective on what it actually takes to grow a local business in a small town today. What I found was a growing community of entrepreneurs, creatives, shop owners, hospitality brands, tourism businesses, and community builders doing incredibly thoughtful and innovative things — often without access to the kinds of conversations or modern marketing strategies that larger markets take for granted. That realization became the foundation for this show. Small Town Stories is a podcast exploring the business behind Main Streets across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Through interviews, storytelling, and solo episodes, we’ll be talking about local business marketing, entrepreneurship, creativity, tourism, branding, customer experience, community-driven growth, and the stories shaping small town business today. Some episodes will feature conversations with café owners, founders, artists, makers, tourism leaders, and entrepreneurs building destination businesses in small communities. Other episodes will break down practical small business strategy, Main Street marketing lessons, local business growth ideas, and the challenges and opportunities that come with growing a business outside major cities. If you care about entrepreneurship, local business, creativity, or the future of small towns, you’re in the right place. Follow the show now so you don’t miss the official launch of Small Town Stories and future conversations about the people, places, and businesses shaping Main Streets today. You can also follow along on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast and visit thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com for updates, guest announcements, and more stories from small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss a conversation. You can learn more, join the newsletter, and explore past episodes at thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com. And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

  • 10 Episodes

About

Are you trying to grow a small town business while feeling like most entrepreneurship advice was never designed for the reality of local business? Do you ever wonder why some Main Street businesses become thriving community staples while others struggle to stay visible in a world that’s changing faster than ever? And are you craving more honest conversations about what it actually takes to build something meaningful in a small town today — from marketing and creativity to reinvention, tourism, leadership, and community? If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place! Welcome to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Streets across Canada, the U.S., and beyond. Each week, we’re diving into conversations about local business marketing, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building a small town business in today’s modern world. I’m Jan Ditchfield — top-ranked podcast host, marketer, entrepreneur, and longtime storyteller. After spending years building businesses and working in marketing, media, and online entrepreneurship, I eventually found myself back in the small town where I grew up: Merrickville, Ontario. And what I realized very quickly is this... small town business works differently. The relationships are different. The visibility challenges are different. Reputation matters differently. Word of mouth matters differently. And yet most business advice completely ignores the nuance of what it takes to grow a local business in a tight-knit community. That’s why I created this show! Inside the podcast, you’ll hear interviews with entrepreneurs, founders, creatives, shop owners, community builders, tourism leaders, and the people shaping modern small town life today. You’ll also hear solo episodes where I break down the marketing strategies, customer experience ideas, local branding lessons, and business insights that help small businesses stand out and grow sustainably. We talk about everything from local tourism and community-driven growth to small business marketing, creativity, entrepreneurship, customer loyalty, destination businesses, and what it really means to build a business people want to keep coming back to. So whether you own a storefront, run a service-based business, dream of opening something one day, or simply love the culture and character behind Main Street businesses, I’m so glad you’re here. Hit follow, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us every Thursday for new conversations about the people, places, and strategies shaping small towns today. And if you want to connect beyond the podcast, you can visit thesmalltownstoriespodcast.com and follow along on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast for guest announcements, behind-the-scenes updates, and more stories from small towns across North America.

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