Honors Mentorship Project 2017:
Why do Small Businesses Matter?
There are lots of businesses. There are many chains along with local, small businesses. My goal for this project was to inform people the impact that small businesses have on not only the economy but the community of which it resides in. I began my research at my mentorship (J.R. Crider’s). I learned all the things small businesses do to help the local community such as volunteering at local ministries. I also learned of the hardships they experience, sometimes more than larger, corporate businesses do. Along with my personal experiences, I conducted outside research to learn more of the economic impact small businesses have on their community. I’ve learned that one of the hardest parts of a small business is making it through the first year. Small businesses have a positive impact on the economy and make every experience more personal for their customers.
As I began my mentorship with Ribbons and Rows, I did a lot of research that I didn’t know would be useful later on. I searched for tips on the best whole sale places to order shirts from. I searched for businesses that carried brands similar to the one we were making. In all of this, I learned that the majority of places I was finding were small businesses. I had the chance to go to the Atlanta Apparel Market a couple times to represent Ribbons and Rows along with J.R. Crider’s. While I was there I received a lot of advice from fellow business owners. I heard from hundreds of people, but they all gave the same general advice. They said the hardest part is the first year. You have no clue what you’re doing and you have to learn fast. I learned they were exactly right.
The outside research I conducted also proved these business owners right. I found in multiple articles, the main obstacles business owners face (especially in the first year) are: funding, time management, hiring the right people, and marketing. In an article I read it was stated, “Being your own boss is challenging but definitely empowering. “I found this especially true with not only Ribbons and Rows but within Crider’s as well. Although I was not at the Gainesville location when it opened, I was asked to help with the opening of our Cumming, GA location. I learned that even with a somewhat established business, there are still the multiple obstacles faced. We had to make sure we had the money to rent the space, buy the inventory needed to fill the store, to hire new employees, and tables, etc. We also had to figure out the best way to market the new location and find the best employees possible. With all of this going on at one time, it was very difficult to manage time between the Cumming location and checking in on our Gainesville and Dahlonega locations as well.
Some more information I found in my research beyond experience was that the importance of small businesses go beyond just employing a small number of people and opening up new stores. I found that even though small businesses are obviously considered “small”, there are between 25-27 million small businesses in the U.S. which provide 60% to 80% of all American jobs throughout the nation. I also found that since small businesses provide such a high percentage of American jobs in the U.S., they make up 44% of the U.S. private payroll. Some say, “...small businesses are the engines of job creation in the United States.”
Beyond creating jobs and greatly improving the local and national economy, small business also help to improve their communities. At Crider’s we do a few service projects a month and a few times a year we make specialized t-shirts to raise money for organizations. One of the more recent outreach projects we did as a company was volunteering at Good News at Noon in Gainesville, Georgia. In an article I read while researching, I came across a quote that I believe all business owners need to hear. This quote tells just what a small business is all about. It reads, “Never forget the impact that your small business can have in your community and the world at large”. This was very powerful to me because it is encouragement to all small business owners. It also is almost a direct answer to my essential question for this project (“Why are small business important?”).
After all of my research conducted within my internship and beyond to articles and people, I have learned a lot about small businesses. I have learned small businesses are important to small towns, large communities, and the nation as a whole. They create and provide jobs for around half of Americans. They have a huge positive impact on not only local economies but the national economy as well. I would say that the greatest thing that small businesses provides in this world is the way it brings a community together. Small business bring families closer, provide jobs in their local communities and lend out a helping hand to those who need it.
Why do Small Businesses Matter?
There are lots of businesses. There are many chains along with local, small businesses. My goal for this project was to inform people the impact that small businesses have on not only the economy but the community of which it resides in. I began my research at my mentorship (J.R. Crider’s). I learned all the things small businesses do to help the local community such as volunteering at local ministries. I also learned of the hardships they experience, sometimes more than larger, corporate businesses do. Along with my personal experiences, I conducted outside research to learn more of the economic impact small businesses have on their community. I’ve learned that one of the hardest parts of a small business is making it through the first year. Small businesses have a positive impact on the economy and make every experience more personal for their customers.
As I began my mentorship with Ribbons and Rows, I did a lot of research that I didn’t know would be useful later on. I searched for tips on the best whole sale places to order shirts from. I searched for businesses that carried brands similar to the one we were making. In all of this, I learned that the majority of places I was finding were small businesses. I had the chance to go to the Atlanta Apparel Market a couple times to represent Ribbons and Rows along with J.R. Crider’s. While I was there I received a lot of advice from fellow business owners. I heard from hundreds of people, but they all gave the same general advice. They said the hardest part is the first year. You have no clue what you’re doing and you have to learn fast. I learned they were exactly right.
The outside research I conducted also proved these business owners right. I found in multiple articles, the main obstacles business owners face (especially in the first year) are: funding, time management, hiring the right people, and marketing. In an article I read it was stated, “Being your own boss is challenging but definitely empowering. “I found this especially true with not only Ribbons and Rows but within Crider’s as well. Although I was not at the Gainesville location when it opened, I was asked to help with the opening of our Cumming, GA location. I learned that even with a somewhat established business, there are still the multiple obstacles faced. We had to make sure we had the money to rent the space, buy the inventory needed to fill the store, to hire new employees, and tables, etc. We also had to figure out the best way to market the new location and find the best employees possible. With all of this going on at one time, it was very difficult to manage time between the Cumming location and checking in on our Gainesville and Dahlonega locations as well.
Some more information I found in my research beyond experience was that the importance of small businesses go beyond just employing a small number of people and opening up new stores. I found that even though small businesses are obviously considered “small”, there are between 25-27 million small businesses in the U.S. which provide 60% to 80% of all American jobs throughout the nation. I also found that since small businesses provide such a high percentage of American jobs in the U.S., they make up 44% of the U.S. private payroll. Some say, “...small businesses are the engines of job creation in the United States.”
Beyond creating jobs and greatly improving the local and national economy, small business also help to improve their communities. At Crider’s we do a few service projects a month and a few times a year we make specialized t-shirts to raise money for organizations. One of the more recent outreach projects we did as a company was volunteering at Good News at Noon in Gainesville, Georgia. In an article I read while researching, I came across a quote that I believe all business owners need to hear. This quote tells just what a small business is all about. It reads, “Never forget the impact that your small business can have in your community and the world at large”. This was very powerful to me because it is encouragement to all small business owners. It also is almost a direct answer to my essential question for this project (“Why are small business important?”).
After all of my research conducted within my internship and beyond to articles and people, I have learned a lot about small businesses. I have learned small businesses are important to small towns, large communities, and the nation as a whole. They create and provide jobs for around half of Americans. They have a huge positive impact on not only local economies but the national economy as well. I would say that the greatest thing that small businesses provides in this world is the way it brings a community together. Small business bring families closer, provide jobs in their local communities and lend out a helping hand to those who need it.