Impressions - August/September 2024 - 32

t hink .
mak e .
d o.
better business
Like this article? Read more better business articles
at ImpressionsMagazine.com/build-your-business.
Seven Ways
of Engaging with
Your Community
A look at some of the ways different apparel decorators
are reaching out to their neighbors and stakeholders
BY DEBORAH SEXTON, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
going to stress out the staff and jeopardize
getting work done for paying customers.
What follows are some specific examples
of how decorators have gotten involved in
their communities.
Small-Business Groups
There's nothing like getting involved as a part of the broader
community to show your business is about more than just
making money. Image by TensorSpark - stock.adobe.com
As I discussed in a previous article ( " Thriving
Together, " April 2024 issue of Impressions),
getting involved in your community not
only raises awareness of your business, it also
creates a positive brand image, enhances your
creditability, builds trust and creates the perception
that you care about more than just
money. When a potential client is looking at
a Googled list of local suppliers, it can make
your name stand out.
Because there will always be more than
enough opportunities to take advantage of,
shop owners suggest choosing something
that aligns with you personally or your shop's
mission statement. For example, if schools are
one of your larger niches, supporting spirit
and fundraising activities is a logical choice.
" If you don't know where to start, ask
yourself 'What's important to me and why
P.32
is it important?' " says Jen Badger, owner
of ShineOn designs (shineondesigns.com),
located in Jefferson, Iowa. " From a personal
standpoint, there's a lot of self fulfillment that
comes from being involved and making a
difference in something that is important
to you. "
Remember, community involvement
does not always have to be about donating
free T-shirts or contributing cash. You can
volunteer your time, for example, or help
with planning.
Something to bear in mind: no matter
what you decided to do, veteran decorators
caution not to bite off more than you can
chew. If your shop is overwhelmed during the
month of December, that might be a good
time to step away from whatever else might
be going on and wait for a time when it is not
ImpressionsMagazine.com Aug./Sept. 2024
ShineOn designs' Badger lives in the same
small town where she works. She first started
screen printing in her home. Eventually
she moved into a commercial building on
Main Street. At that time, there were no
groups focused on small businesses.
" I just started going around and talking
to other small-business owners asking
for advice. That evolved into us meeting
informally after hours at a restaurant. It
started out as a way to support each other, "
Badger says.
" Being a small-business owner who's
actively working on their company all the
time can be isolating. Your family doesn't
understand why you want to constantly
talk about it or understand things you
might be going through or know how
to offer support. We didn't have a regular
schedule. We met six to eight times that
first year, " she says.
" Then our town had a boom, and new
businesses were joining all the time. We
started working together more and our
marketing efforts came together as a group.
When the chamber of commerce restructured,
we became a subcommittee of the
chamber board. Now, we have a budget
http://www.ImpressionsMagazine.com/build-your-business http://stock.adobe.com http://www.shineondesigns.com http://www.ImpressionsMagazine.com
Impressions - August/September 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Impressions - August/September 2024
