Entrepreneurial Success in a Small Town
Many entrepreneurs choose to work in small towns. From shorter commutes
to word-of-mouth marketing, running a business in a small community has its
advantages. And today's technology is presenting small-town entrepreneurs
with even more opportunities.
Entrepreneur Adam Armit started his music business when he was just 12
years old.
Armit was born and raised in a small town. He moved to a larger city for
post-secondary school, but his company still operates in his small hometown.
Armit's company, Wildfire Music, includes a mobile DJ business, concert
promotions, a talent agency and talent management services.
Entrepreneurs like Armit find many advantages to running their businesses
in small towns. There's less competition, for one. Also, information spreads
by word of mouth, which is a cheap way to market one's business. Owners can
always choose to move to a larger market at a later time, or expand locations.
Joseph Andreula started a business in his hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey,
which has a population of about 40,000. He opened his first kickboxing studio
in 1997. By getting the word out to his acquaintances in Hoboken, the company
prospered and expanded. CKO Kickboxing now has 18 locations in New Jersey
and New York.
"I had an advantage in knowing business owners, schools and friends who
could help distribute my company's flyers," Andreula says.
In his hometown, Andreula is able to barter his kickboxing services for
everything from haircuts and legal advice to spa gift cards and even his morning
coffee.
"The personal fulfillment of knowing that I am contributing in my community
and looked at as someone who is making a difference is an incredible and rewarding
feeling," he says.
Thanks to the Internet, entrepreneurs can start businesses and work out
of their homes in small towns.
Sara Morgan is a website developer. In 2005, she started Custom Solutions
in the quaint community of St. Francisville, Louisiana.
"I had often visited the town on weekends and holidays, since it was such
a charming and beautiful place," Morgan says.
"Once I went independent and formed my own consulting business, I realized
that I could live anywhere I wanted to. I chose to live somewhere safe and
beautiful. As long as I had an Internet connection, I was in business."
In addition to Morgan's website development work, she is also a technical
author. She has written dozens of articles and six software development books.
Recently, Morgan's company expanded into specialized publishing with the
release of her seventh book, No Limits: How I Escaped the Clutches of Corporate
America to Live the Self-Employed Life of My Dreams.
For Morgan and others, the advantages of working in a small town include
faster trips to the post office, no heavy traffic and no wasted time commuting.
Morgan also appreciates raising her children in a small, safe community.
Obstacles of small town business
There can also be some disadvantages to running a business in a small town.
Getting your business off the ground can be a challenging undertaking.
Starting out at age 12 was an obstacle in itself for Armit. To break into
a small market, he needed to gain the trust of his clients. He also needed
to strategically price his services and position his marketing.
He started out as a DJ for local family reunions and other events. Then,
he went on to gain the trust of his school's student council and landed the
DJ contract for all the school dances.
It was more challenging for Armit to get wedding contracts, but he did
that too. Today, Armit's DJ business is the most profitable section of Wildfire
Music.
"Putting the music for the most important dance of people's lives in a
12-year-old's hands is definitely something that is hard to convince people
to do," Armit says.
"I had to prove myself, market myself and gain as many contacts as I could.
Once I gained the trust of one couple, it snowballed from there with people
who attended that wedding hiring me, and on and on. Personal networking has
opened many doors for me since then, and I don't know where I would be without
it."
Since word of mouth spreads quickly, strict attention must be given to
each and every customer who walks in the door, says Andreula. "One person
who has an experience that he or she views as negative could become a major
problem in a small town -- and just the opposite if you provide a positive
experience."
Top tips for a successful small town business
Before starting your business, analyze the market to ensure that a strong
market exists for your products or services.
Open a business that represents your interests. "I opened a music company
because I love music, and know a lot about it," Armit says. "It was natural
to me."
Reading books about business is essential to learning about the entrepreneurial
life. "I would read, read, read and read. Not textbooks, but business books,"
Armit says. "It sounds boring, but you will learn more from those than any
schooling."
Get to know as many people as you can to help market your products or services
through word of mouth, and avoid overspending on advertising, says Armit.
"If you market it right, and manage it right, any business can thrive in
a small town," he says.
"Try to connect with members of the local community," Morgan suggests.
"People that live in rural areas are typically very nice people, and they
love to help their neighbors. You would be surprised what people are willing
to do for you if you just ask. And a small business owner always needs help."
Get as much education as possible, Morgan adds. "Really apply yourself
in school and look for opportunities to intern while in school. Find a way
to stand out from everyone else."
Along with providing top customer service, Andreula suggests studying the
type of business you're most interested in starting. "Go into that store or
business every day as a customer and learn everything that you can," he says.
"Call the owner and note how they answer the phone. E-mail
them and see how they respond."
It's also important to think about what you would do to improve the business,
without spending a significant amount of money, he says.
Links
Entrepreneur.com
Articles and ideas for business owners
U.S. Small Business Administration
Programs and services to help entrepreneurs start, grow and succeed
SmallBusiness.com
Resources for small business owners in the U.S.
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