Small Businesses Persevere

Originally Published June 2010

Quad Cities Business News

Small businesses can get excited about the future, according to a 2010 study by Forbes Insights titled Lessons Learned—A Case for Greater Optimism.  The study declares that even though small businesses were “working harder and longer for less” in 2009, the future holds positive growth for small business across the nation.

The case for optimism can be seen in the Quad Cities.  Local small business owners appear to be persevering despite the economic recession.

Prescott Valley’s Economic Development Manger, Greg Fister says, “…As the economy improves and the credit market becomes a little more accommodating, I think more and more entrepreneurs will take the plunge and open their own businesses.”

Local small business owners also sense the recession coming to an end and business increasing.  Kay Luckett of Get Organized, a professional organizing service in Prescott, is optimistic about the future.

“I feel like the recession is lifting,” says Luckett.

In the meantime, Luckett is networking and marketing her service in inexpensive ways.  Much of her business comes through word of mouth. She increases her exposure by distributing brochures about the business and writing an article for Coffee Talk Light News.  Luckett hopes to create more opportunities for her services by volunteering them to non-profit organizations, especially those that help animals.

“As the word gets around more [customers] will call,” says Luckett.  “I’d rather work for nothing than not work at all.”

The economy has not drastically hindered other small business owners in the Quad Cities. One local small business owner, Angie Moran, notes a small reduction in new customer leads, likely a result of poor economic conditions.

Moran has owned and operated Completely Clean, a small home and business cleaning service for the last four years.  She is passionate about strong leadership, customer relations, and improving her business in tough economic times and as regular practice. 

“I’ve taken this opportunity to get better at my business,” Moran says.

She is not alone in this approach.  Forbes Insights indicates that 59% of small business owners have taken time to improve their efficiency and 42% have decided to concentrate on already established customers.

She works hard to keep her prices competitive while staying within the quoted timeframe for service.

“I like to cultivate rich relationships [with customers].” Moran said.

A special report from Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute (Guardian) highlights several strengths of successful small business owners, including an in depth focus on customer relations.  The Guardian study also identifies social media resources, such as Facebook and Twitter, as important tools for marketing.

Two new local business owners are proactive in their networking, which includes social media and other Internet resources. Denise Mueller and her daughter, Nicole Mueller, opened their business, Herman & Lily’s Distributors, LLC. 

(Herman & Lily’s), in October 2009.  The mother-daughter operation provides assistance to individuals with end-of-life preparations.

The Muellers utilize social media and the Internet by maintaining a blog and a Facebook site for the business. They joined the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce and visited assisted living facilities to network locally.

“This [strategy] is about building good solid relationships,” says Nicole Mueller.  “It doesn’t cost [us] anything to talk to people.”

Recession commonly brings to mind liquidations sales and vacant storefronts.  According to William J. Dennis, Jr., Senior Research Fellow of the National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation, an economic downturn sparks business starts on the way out of recession.

“There are two types of business starts - one is called an ‘opportunity’ start and the other is a ‘necessity’ start.  The first occurs when a person sees an opportunity that he/she tries to capture.  The second is when a person has no other option and is forced into it.  Recessions typically cause a large expansion in the number of necessity businesses, ” Dennis says.

Herman & Lily’s opened in October in the thick of the recession and appears to be an exception to this trend.  The business started after seeing an opportunity to provide an uncommon service.  Denise and Nicole plan to expand their business statewide.

“If you’re passionate, it will work out,” says Denise Mueller.

The economic shifts have not gone unnoticed in the Quad Cities.  However, small business owners have applied ingenuity in networking and fine tuning their products and services.  These steps have carried them to what they believe is the end of the recession.