Biggest Mistakes

In this episode of Shop Talk, Jax of Crazy Squirrel Game Store and Calvin of Next-Gen Escape get candid about the financial and operational pitfalls they encountered while building their brands. While assembling LEGO sets, the two owners peel back the layers on the "owner's stress" that comes with making the wrong call.

The Technical Trap: Choosing "Custom" Over "Convenient"

Jax shares a recent struggle involving a week-long migration of her e-commerce platform.

• The Error: Relying on her background as a programmer, Jax originally chose a complex, customizable web solution (WooCommerce) over a streamlined industry standard.

• The Result: Years of maintenance and recent security hacks proved that "doing it yourself" isn't always the most efficient use of an owner’s time.

• The Takeaway: In business, choosing the simpler, more reliable path often pays dividends in reclaimed time and peace of mind.

The Marketing Myth: The $60,000 Sales Lesson

Calvin discusses a pivotal moment from the early days of Next-Gen Escape. Shortly after graduating, he hired a high-cost sales consultant to handle B2B outreach and organizational workshops.

• The Error: Outsourcing the core "voice" and sales strategy of the business to a third party before the product was fully established.

• The Result: Despite $60,000 in spending on commercials and "guaranteed" leads, the promised return on investment never materialized.

• The Takeaway: Bet on yourself. Calvin reflects on the importance of trusting your own vision and the danger of over-relying on "experts" who may not have the same skin in the game as the owner.

Key Entrepreneurial Concepts:

• The Bread Truck Theory: The necessity of building systems so the business can continue to "move the boulder" even if the owner is temporarily sidelined.

• Product First, Marketing Second: The realization that a great experience (like Next-Gen’s rooms) will ultimately find its audience once it is built, regardless of how many "letters of intent" are signed beforehand.

• The Power of Partnership: Both hosts emphasize that their most reliable assets have been their immediate partners—specifically Calvin's wife and producer, Kiara—rather than external consultants.