Micro business owners gain exposure and network

Art Smith decided to start his full-time photography business long before there was talk of the Wall Street collapse.

“I’m making the leap to go full time,” he said. “And turning my back on a steady paycheck.”
—Art Smith, owner of Art Smith Photography

“I kind of made the decision before the economy went south,” he said. “I really think it is a good time. When business gets harder like this, businesses are going to need to put more money into marketing, because that’s the only way they’re going to stay on top, and that’s who I’m selling to.”

For the last five years, Smith has been running his commercial photography business part time, but is now getting ready to open his studio in downtown Columbia on Broadway.

“I’m making the leap to go full time,” he said. “And turning my back on a steady paycheck.”

“People get personalized service, and often times, you don’t get that at the mall where you’re going to get makeup. We sit down with people one on one and let them try the products.”
—Mary Ann Simpson, independent senior sales director for Mary Kay

Art Smith Photography was one of 75 small businesses renting a booth at the third annual Missouri Employers Mutual Micro Business Fair at Stoney Creek Inn. The businesses, all of which are members of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, were there to gain more exposure, talk about their businesses and meet with the general public.

“We wanted to create an opportunity for them to be able to showcase their businesses in a tradeshow environment,” said Andrea Jira, staff liaison for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a sold out event.”

“People are reluctant at this point,” he said. “They’re sitting on the fence not sure which direction to go. So there is a little reluctance in their decision making right now.”
—Kurt Hollenberg, co-owner of United Country Land & Home

Currently the Chamber has 1,800 members, 1,100 of which are classified as micro businesses. The chamber defines a micro business as an enterprise involving 10 or fewer employees, Jira said.

The exhibitors ran the gamut of businesses, such as real estate, insurance, computer, theatrical and physical fitness ventures. Even with the national financial crisis, the small niche business owners interviewed during the fair seemed confident they would be buffered from the worst of it.

Smith thinks he’s going to maintain a profitable business during the economic downturn because he is able to accommodate clients and offer a variety of services including aerial photography, which he said no one else is doing from a helicopter in this area.

Smith, who has two interns from Stephens College this semester, is primarily a one-man show. But for businesses that have several employees, the Missouri Career Center was on hand to spread the word about training opportunities they provide.

“We want businesses to know there is free training for them available through our centers,” said Janice Dawson-Threat, a workforce development counselor for the state agency. “Small businesses can’t afford the thousands of dollars in training. We don’t make assumptions about what we think (employees) know, and if small businesses can’t afford to train people in soft skills. We can come in to help teach those skills.”

Soft skills are job-related social skills, including customer service, teamwork, conflict resolution, decision-making and self-motivation.

For Mary Ann Simpson, an independent senior sales director for Mary Kay, good customer service is a vital component to her success during the economic downturn.

“People get personalized service, and often times, you don’t get that at the mall where you’re going to get makeup,” she said. “We sit down with people one on one and let them try the products.”

Others have noticed people cut back on their spending.

“To some extent, we have slow days and we have good days,” said Gary Duncan, owner of Frameworks Gifts & Interiors. “But generally, people are bit more conservative than they have been in the past. However, we’re at least equal to last year, if not ahead. So, we’re happy about that.”

Kurt Hollenberg, co-owner of United Country Missouri Land & Home, which just earned the Summit Elite Award, said he also sees a change in people’s buying patterns. “People are reluctant at this point,” he said. “They’re sitting on the fence, not sure which direction to go. So there is a little reluctance in their decision-making right now. We feel like after the election things will level off and the public will be interested again in buying and selling real estate.”

The overall resilience of Columbia’s small business community is something Jira says is indicative of an  “entrepreneurial spirit.”

“This is when people start businesses,” she said. “When they maybe have been laid off work, downsized. They see an opportunity for a need that’s not being met. Where some businesses are hurting, some businesses develop and prosper.”

But the people pursuing such opportunities are still faced with challenges.

“Watching costs is going to be a big thing as I go with this,” Smith said. “Right now, opening up, it seems like I’ve been a check writing machine, and I’m going to have to turn a corner and watch what’s going in versus what’s coming out.”