Mellowlark Labs

11/27/2025

❄️ As the holiday season approaches and we’re blasted with deals and advertisements on every platform, we’d like to take a moment to encourage you to show your support for the small businesses in your community - not just on Small Business Saturday, but all year long.

We’ve put together a list of businesses we love if you’re looking for a way to keep it local as you do your holiday shopping. On top of being run by some amazing people, these businesses have some truly unique items that make great gifts!

👉 If you’re looking for a place to buy something specific, shoot us a message and we’ll try to point you in the right direction.

And, if you’re a small business owner yourself, consider giving yourself the gift of time this year - take a (free, no strings attached) meeting with us and see how we can help take some of the work off your plate and make your job just a little easier ❤️

11/19/2025

Small, local businesses are one of our best tools for fighting the loneliness epidemic, as well as several other problems plaguing our communities now.

Since 2008, we’ve lost hundreds of thousands of gathering places: coffee shops, bookstores, barbershops… These “third spaces” are where community happens. Where you become a regular. Where the staff knows you and asks about your day.

Research shows that 50+ million Americans experience daily loneliness, and lacking social connection carries the same health risks as smoking 15 ci******es a day. That’s nuts! 👀

The solution isn’t complicated: Show up. Linger. Become a regular. Chat with staff. Chat with other patrons. Your presence matters as much as a purchase.

What’s your third space? Drop it in the comments. 👇

11/10/2025

🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT! 🎙️

This week on Not So Small, Sam Bauman sits down with Shahir Ahmed, Vice President of Business Services at Neighborhood Development Center (), to talk about The Minnesota Promise Act () and what happens when you truly trust entrepreneurs to know what their businesses need.

Shahir shares the story behind the Minnesota Promise Act, a groundbreaking $72 million grant program providing flexible funding to businesses in historically disinvested communities. Unlike previous programs loaded with red tape, this one trusts business owners to make their own decisions about what they need most.

We dig into systemic barriers, why “character lending” works, and how NDC’s 30+ year model of training, lending, and wraparound support is helping entrepreneurs build businesses that become beacons of hope in their communities.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts to hear about building from within, creating economic opportunity, and why small businesses are the backbone of our communities.

03/28/2025

🚛 New Episode! 🚚

Episode 5 of Not So Small features Cameron Gillette, co-owner of College Muscle Movers in St. Paul, MN (). Cameron shares how he and his co-owners built their business by prioritizing trust, adaptability, and leadership, turning everyday challenges into opportunities for growth. From expanding into a 13,000 sq. ft. warehouse to creating a work culture that empowers his team, Cameron’s story is full of interesting topics.

This episode isn’t just about moving; it’s about leadership, resilience, and redefining what it means to run a service-based business with heart.

🎧 Tune in now wherever you get your podcasts! And if you enjoy the episode, please leave us a review on Apple Music or Spotify to help spread the word.

🔦 Community Spotlight: Lloyd's Automotive Service ()

02/21/2025

Check it out - we just dropped the first episode of our podcast, Not So Small, where we explore the big impacts of small businesses in our community!

Episode 1 features our host Sam talking with Mariah Hamm, a trailblazing q***r realtor and the visionary force behind Hamm Real Estate Co in the Twin Cities. Mariah shares their journey of building a nurturing, value-aligned brokerage that prioritizes clients' comfort and respect. From the pivotal decision to obtain a real estate license to establishing a space where clients can be their true selves, Mariah's story is one of resilience and transformation.

This episode is not just about real estate—it's a testament to how steadfast effort and a unique vision can redefine an entire industry and inspire others to seek similar growth and fulfillment.

We hope you'll give it a listen and subscribe to Not So Small on your favorite streaming platform. And lastly, give us a review on Apple Music or Spotify to help more small businesses hear these important conversations!

Listen at mellowlark.com/podcast

02/18/2025

📣 Big News! We’re launching our podcast, Not So Small, this Friday, February 21st! 🎙️

Running a small business is anything but small. That’s why we’re launching Not So Small, a podcast where we ask small business owners the big questions—about their journeys, challenges, and the passion that keeps them going.

Hosted by Sam Bauman, each episode features real conversations with local entrepreneurs, sharing the lessons they’ve learned and the stories behind their businesses. Whether you’re a business owner yourself or just love hearing about the grit and creativity behind the scenes, this is a space to learn, connect, and get inspired.

We aim to create a community where small business owners can ask questions and find support, and we hope you’ll join us. Keep an eye out for the first episode dropping this Friday!

08/16/2024

One of our clients, College Muscle Movers, was recently named Minnesota's Best Moving Company. We've seen firsthand their dedication to taking care of their customers and employees. Congrats to them, we're glad to see their hard work paying off!

01/23/2024

Fixie is a client of ours. Check them out if you live in the Twin Cities area!

👋 Hello, we're Fixie Home Improvement!

We're located in the Twin Cities and we help you repair and improve your home. We handle projects both big and small, from regular maintenance to remodeling and renovation.

We’ve got a lot to share and we’re excited for you to follow along!

01/19/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▪️We read The Good Fight by Liane Davey and gave it 4/5 stars!

💡This book was a quick, easy read that offered a lot of practical strategies and foundational principles for positive, productive communication. Liane reminds us that tension and conflict can actually be GOOD things, if they’re done well. She offers real life examples and specific phrases and techniques to use to accomplish that.

⛺️ Our favorite metaphor: a strong team is like a family putting a tarp over a tent before the rain. If everyone advocates for their corner of the tarp, the whole tent gets covered. If one person pulls too hard for their corner, or if someone gets fed up and walks away, the tent won’t be covered. Healthy tension creates a positive result and gets everyone what they need!

💁🏻‍♀️ Davey’s website has great worksheets and resources available. We found her advice so useful, we’ve already put her techniques into practice with some of our clients!

01/09/2024

🛝We love working with data and we love playing. Sometimes we find ways to do both at the same time!

☕️If you’ve popped onto our stories at all over the past month or two you may have noticed our coffee tasting adventure, the Brew Tour. We tasted and rated 40 different flavored coffee pods!

📈Data has a reputation for being boring and/or complicated, but it doesn’t have to be! Data is all around us and we can learn so much from it.

🌼 What statistic would you be most interested in learning if you had the data available?

🔗 Check the link in our bio to see the full set of data from our Brew Tour!

01/05/2024

🥳 It’s been quite the year for Mellowlark Labs!! We achieved official LLC status, launched our website, tripled our client base, and helped a ton of small businesses solve problems and achieve their goals!

🔭 We worked hard and had fun and we’re so excited to see what this year holds!

➡️ Swipe to take a look at how we spent 2023!

10/27/2023

🎃 Halloween is one of our favorite holidays! We love costumes, fall activities, and getting in touch with our spooky side.

👻 This year, we're combining our love for Halloween with our love for learning...enter Halloween Trivia!

👉 Click the link in our bio or go to https://mellowlark.com/halloween-trivia/ to take the quiz and see if you can survive an encounter with Ol' Jack!

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Then share with friends to spread the spooky vibes!

Test your knowledge of all things seasonal and spooky with our Halloween Trivia Quiz. Do you have what it takes to outsmart Ol' Jack?