♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO INSIDE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT LOUISVILLE'S SMALL BUSINESS SCENE.

MOST ALL BUSINESSES START OUT AS SMALL BUSINESSES.

IN FACT, MORE THAN 99% OF ALL BUSINESSES IN KENTUCKY ARE CONSIDERED SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND THEY'RE POPPING UP IN LARGER NUMBERS SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

TODAY WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK INSIDE THE MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP GROW YOUR SMALL BUSINESS IN KENTUCKY AND SOME OF THE SUCCESS STORIES OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE THRIVING HERE.

FIRST WE TAKE YOU TO THE COMMUNITY OF NORTON COMMONS IN NORTHEAST JEFFERSON COUNTY.

IN THE URBAN SUBURBAN COMMUNITY OF NORTON COMMONS, SMALL BUSINESSES OCCUPYING EVERY STORE FRONT THE TEA SHOPS I'VE COME ACROSS, WE CAN GO IN AND SIT DOWN LIKE A COFFEE SHOP.

THAT'S WHERE THAT CAME IN 2019.

>> JASMINE GATTI WAS WORKING IN THE MEDICAL FIELD FOR A DECADE BLF SHE DECIDED TO OPEN A TEA SHOP IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED FLEUR de TEA.

>> MY VISION WAS JUST TO HAVE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST COME TOGETHER, HANG OUT, KIND OF READ AND RELAX.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO DO.

>> IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR HER TO REALIZE SHE WAS GOING TO NEED SOME HELP.

>> ALL OF MY IDEAS, BUT IDEAS DON'T HELP YOU ACTUALLY MANAGE A BUSINESS.

>> JUST A FEW BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET, YOU WILL SEE TAYLOR LEE COMFORT, A GIFT SHOP THAT STARTED SELLING COMFORT KITS OUT OF SHELLY DOOLEY'S BASEMENT.

>> THIS WAS OUR ORIGINAL SYMPATHY KIT AND WE HAVE SINCE THEN ADDED CELEBRATION GIFT BOXES FOR NEW MOMS, WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS FOR A NEW JOB.

LIKE IT REALLY JUST GREW INTO ANYTHING THAT COULD COMFORT AND UPLIFT AND ENCOURAGE WOMEN.

>> WITH A BACKGROUND IN BRANDING AND MARKETING, SHELLY HAS SINCE EXPANDED ON THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT, OPENING UP A STORE FRONT LAST YEAR CREATING GIFT BOXES FOR OTHER OCCASIONS AND EVEN COMFORT FOOD AND LOUNGE WEAR.

>> OUR CONCEPT IS REALLY JUST BASED ON COMFORT.

SO ANYTHING FROM COMFORT FOOD TO COMFORT CLOTHING, LOUNGE WEAR, COMFORT GIFTS.

SO WE EVEN PUT LIKE OUR JEWELRY THROUGH A PROCESS OF LIKE ARE THE EARRINGS LIGHT WEIGHT.

ARE THEY COMFORTABLE?

BECAUSE EVEN THINGS LIKE JEWELRY SOMETIMES IS LIKE NOT COMFORTABLE.

SO WE LITERALLY THINK THROUGH THE COMFORT IN EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE IN OUR STORE.

I DON'T MAKE ANY OF THE COMFORT FOOD BUT I GO OUT AND WORK WITH OTHER AMAZING BUSINESSES.

A LOT OF THE WOMEN OWNED THAT MAKE THE BEST CARMELS OR BEST CHOCOLATE AND WE DEVELOPED THAT TOGETHER AND PUT OUR LABEL ON IT.

>> BUT STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS WAS DEFINITELY OUTSIDE OF SHELLY'S COMFORT ZONE.

>> BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HAS BEEN ALL NEW.

LEARNING ALL THE DIFFERENT HATH YOU HAVE TO WEAR FOR ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVING A STORE FRONT AND MANAGING ALL YOUR NEGOTIATE THAT'S INVENTORY HAS BEEN A HUGE LEARNING CURVE.

>> ONE PLACE JASMINE GATTI FOUND HELP WAS THE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM DESIGNED TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS NAVIGATE ALL ASPECTS OF OWNING AND OPERATING A BUSINESS.

>> I LOVE HOW IT SOLIDIFIED I DIDN'T KNOW HELPED ME GROW INTO WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO KIND OF MAKE MY BUSINESS A SUCCESS.

>> SINCE THEN, JASMINE HAS OPENED A SECOND LOCATION IN OLD LOUISVILLE, AND SHE HAS LEARNED A LOT IN THE PROCESS.

>> MAKE A PLAN.

ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN.

AND I AM THE KIND OF PERSON THROWING DARTS AT A BOARD AND SEEING WHAT STICKS.

AND IT'S YOU CAN'T DO THAT OWNING A BUSINESS.

I THINK MY BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE IS YOU JUST CAN'T OVERTHINK IT.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS, I THINK YOU HAVE TO DIVE IN AND JUMP OFF THAT DEEP END INTO THE DEEP END AND GO FOR IT.

BECAUSE IF I KNEW EVERYTHING, ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS OF WHAT IT IS LIKE, I MIGHT NOT HAVE DONE IT BUT I'M GLAD THAT I DID.

>> TAILOR LEE COMFORT IS GROWING TOO.

OUTSIDE OF ITS FLAG SHIP STORE FRONT, THE COMPANY IS SELLING WHOLESALE COMFORT ITEMS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, PARTNERING WITH OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

>> I THINK LOUISVILLE IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO START A SMALL BUSINESS.

THE AMOUNT OF TALENT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY IS INCREDIBLE.

WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY AND IT'S SO INTERCONNECTED AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S JUST EASY TO CONNECT WITH OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE DEVELOPING.

DEVELOPING PRODUCTS.

>> ERIC JORDAN JOINS US MOW FROM GREATER LOUISVILLE-- NOW FROM GREATER LOUISVILLE, INC.

THE MANAGER OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STRATEGIES AND THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE POWER TO PROSPER MINORITY ACCELERATOR, WHICH WE HEARD A LITTLES BIT ABOUT THERE.

SO WE HAVE SEEN THAT IMPACT.

TELL US EXACTLY WHAT POWER TO PROSPER IS ALL ABOUT.

>> SURE.

SO THE POWER TO PROSPER PROGRAM IS A COHORT STYLE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES GROW IN SCALE.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT MINORITY OWNED, I'M TALKING ABOUT BLACK OWNED, WOMEN OWNED, LGBTQ OWNED VETERAN OWNED, ET CETERA.

SO THIS IS A FREE SEVEN-MONTH PROGRAM WHERE WE PUT OUR PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THE GAUNTLET OF THINGS THEY NEED TO KNOW IN TERMS OF HOW TO GROW, MANAGE AND DEVELOP THEIR BUSINESS.

SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A LARGER PRESENCE IN THE GREATER LOUISVILLE REGION.

WE TEACH OUR PARTICIPANTS THINGS LIKE FINANCES, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, MARKETING.

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING, HUMAN RESOURCES.

HOW TO GET CERTIFIED AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO WE TEACH THEM A LOT OF SKILLS THAT THEY CAN THEN TAKE WITH THEM IN THE YEARS TO COME.

BUT WHILE OUR PROGRAM IS FREE, WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE IN OUR PROGRAM EACH YEAR.

SO OUR PROGRAM IS MORE SO FOR THE MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS THAT IS ALREADY ESTABLISHED, BEEN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT'S REALLY DESIGNED FOR THE BUSINESS OWNER WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO BUSINESS, WHO IS DOING WELL IN BUSINESS BUT MIGHT WANT TO DO BETTER IN BUSINESS AND OUR PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP THEM DO THAT.

START OF GOING THROUGH OUR PROGRAM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE GRADUATED THREE COHORTS THUS FAR.

WITH WE HAVE 37 PARTICIPANTS SO FAR AND WE ALWAYS LIKE TO TOUT OUR STATS FROM THE PROGRAM AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT ONE YEAR AFTER GRADUATING, OUR PARTICIPANTS TEND TO SEE AN AVERAGE REVENUE INCREASE OF 57%.

>> WOW.

>> THAT'S A REALLY BIG GROWTH.

AND, YOU KNOW, ASIDE FROM THE REVENUE GROWTH, OUR PARTICIPANTS ALSO ADD NEW JOBS, THEY TEND TO OPEN UP NEW LOCATIONS, TEND TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE.

SO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ARE HAVE COME FROM OUR PROGRAM.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THE PROGRAM IN THE YEARS TO COME.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE ACTUALLY OPEN NOW.

SO ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED FEEL FREE TO APPLY NOW.

AND WE HOPE TO START OUR NEXT COHORT IN THE SPRING OF 2024.

>> SO EXCITING.

SO EXPLAIN WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU FOCUS ON THESE MINORITY GROUPS.

YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO QUALIFIES BUT WHY IS THAT SECTION SO IMPORTANT?

>> BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE DISPARITIES ARE THAT WE TEND TO SEE.

SO WHEN WE WORK WITH MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY TEND TO COME TO US AND SAY THAT THEY STRUGGLE WITH THINGS LIKE ACCESS TO FUNDING.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OTHER LARGER COMPANIES THAT MIGHT NOT BE MINORITY OWNED, THEY MIGHT NOT STRUGGLE WITH.

SO OUR PROGRAM IS REALLY DESIGNED TO HELP BREAK DOWN BARRIERS FOR THESE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO HELP THEM GET THE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD ACCESS TO OTHERWISE THAT SOME LARGER NON-MINORITY-OWNED COMPANIES MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED, TOO, IT'S FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT HAVE ALREADY KIND OF GOTTEN THEIR FEET WET.

>> YES.

>> BUT THERE IS KIND OF A MIDDLE AREA WHERE THEY TEND TO GET STUCK.

WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN, OFTEN TIMES BUSINESS OWNERS TEND TO LACK A CERTAIN CONFIDENCE OR CERTAIN MIND SET THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REALLY GROW.

THEY COME INTO OUR PROGRAM AND THEY ARE LIKE, WELL, I'M NOT SURE, YOU KNOW, HOW TO OWN A BUSINESS REALLY OR I'M NOT SURE HOW TO REALLY HELP MY EMPLOYEES DO CERTAIN THINGS.

SO REALLY, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S MIND SET AND SO THAT'S WHAT OUR PROGRAM IS REALLY GOOD AT HELPING PEOPLE WITH AS WELL, IS DEVELOPING THAT CONFIDENCE THAT A BUSINESS OWNER WOULD REALLY NEED TO REALLY GROW A BUSINESS.

>> SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GLI, GREATER LOUISVILLE, INC. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW.

EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS AND WHAT YOU ALL DO IN A BROAD SENSE.

>> YEAH, SO GREATER LOUISVILLE, INC. IS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IT IS THE VOICE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

IT REALLY ADVOCATES FOR BUSINESSES, BUSINESS GROWTH.

WE DO A LOT OF WORK WITH A VARIETY OF BUSINESSES, LARGE AND SMALL.

AND SO WHAT WE ALSO DO, WE OFFER A LOT OF PROGRAMS, A LOT OF INSENTIVES, BENEFITS TO OUR MEMBERSHIP, TO HELP THEIR BUSINESSES GROW AND REALLY SUSTAIN THEMSELVES IN THE REGION.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE CURRENT STATE OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN LOUISVILLE?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES; HOWEVER, A LOT OF THEM NEED A LOT OF HELP; ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, COVID REALLY MADE THINGS HARD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF FUNDING.

AND A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT BUSINESSES DEALT WITH DURING COVID, THEY'RE STILL OR DEALING WITH NOW.

SO THAT'S THE STATE OF SMALL BUSINESS FROM WHERE I SIT.

A DIFFICULTY IN ACCESSING FUNDING, GETTING EXPOSURE AND GETTING THEIR FEET BACK UNDER THEM AFTER COVID.

>> I FEEL LIKE DURING THE PANDEMIC THERE WERE EVEN A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES THAT SPROUTED UP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID I DON'T KNOW ABOUT MOO MY REAL JOB, I'M GOING TO GO AND START THIS NEW THING NOW AND THEN THEY GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED 134 HELP.

>> YES.

>> THAT'S WHERE YOU ALL COME IN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU ARE PARTNERING WITH THE 1345UBS DEVELOPMENT-- SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER TO CREATE A MINORITY CERTIFICATION HUB AND WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> YEAH, SO THE MINORITY CERTIFICATION HUB IS SOMETHING THAT WE LAUNCHED EARLIER THIS YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KENTUCKY SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO HELP MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES GET CERTIFIED.

SO IT'S A CERTIFICATION PLATFORM.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT ACTUALLY SET ASIDE MONEY AND FUNDS SPECIFICALLY FOR MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES THAT GET CERTIFIED.

AND SO THIS IS A WAY THAT WE HELP BUSINESSES BET THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO STAY COMPETITIVE WITH COMPANIES THAT REQUIRE A CERTIFICATION.

>> AND BECAUSE OF YOUR ALL REACH AS WELL IN METRO LOUISVILLE, HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH HOW YOU ALL ARE ABLE TO CONNECT SMALL BUSINESSES TO LARGER ORGANIZATIONS AND MAYBE EVEN GET SOME OF THE FUNDING?

>> YEAH, SO THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT THE POWER TO PROSPER PROGRAM DOES REALLY WELL.

WE DO MAKE A STRONG EFFORT TO CONNECT SMALLER BUSINESSES WITH LARGER COMPANIES.

WE INVITE OUR PARTICIPANTS TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT EVENTS TO, YOU KNOW, SPEAK TO LARGER COMPANIES, REPS FROM THE COMPANIES, TO REALLY HELP THEM GET THE FUNDING AND EXPOSURE THAT THEY NEED TO GROW.

>> YEAH, A LOT OF THAT IS ALL ABOUT NETWORKING, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS IS SO IMPORTANT.

OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND COMING UP WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE WITH A BUSINESS COACH FROM LOUISVILLE'S SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, WHICH WE JUST TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT THE.

BUT FIRST, I WANT YOU TO MEET ANGELA HUFFMAN, A GRADUATE OF POWER TO PROSPER AND SINCE THEN, SHE HAS GROWN HER BUSINESS DRAMATICALLY.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> IT IS MUCH HARDER.

THIS IS A DOOR.

I GOT HABITAT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.

>> WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF FABRICS AND SUPPLIES TO HELP SEWERS CROW EIGHT WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE CREATING A TOTE BAG, A QUILT OR, YOU KNOW, A TABLE RUNNER, WHATEVER YOU HAVE.

SO WE ARE BRINGING IN NEW THINGS ALL THE TIME AND IT'S SUPER FUN TO SEE THE COLORS AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE CREATE AND NURTURE CREATIVITY IN OTHERS.

WE BELIEVE THAT CREATIVITY IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SOUL OF A PERSON AND IT HELPS YOU FEEL FULFILLED IN LIFE.

EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THAT DREAM AND THAT JOURNEY HERE IS THE CORE OF EVERYTHING.

>> GO AHEAD AND IRON ALL THE PIECES.

>> STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS IS A TOUGH THING, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.

MY EXPERIENCE WAS IT WAS A LITTLE LONELY.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE I COULD TALK TO AND ASK QUESTIONS OF THAT WERE SLAYING THE SAME DRAGONS I WAS SLAYING SO I THINK THE BIGGEST THING TO SAY IS FIND OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE IN YOUR SAME SECTOR, YOUR SAME INDUSTRY SECTOR, BUT THEY ARE STAYING UP LATE AT NIGHT AND WORRYING AND MAKING PAYROLL AND DOING ALL THOSE SMALL BUSINESS THINGS THAT HAPPEN AND TRYING TO REACH CUSTOMERS.

SO FIND YOUR OWN FOLKS AND BE A PART OF A SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS COMMUNITY.

YOU CAN LEARN FROM OTHERS.

IN 2022, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE GREATER LOUISVILLE, INC.'S MINORITY BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAM CALLED POWER TO PROSPER AND I SIMPLY PUT IN AN APPLICATION.

I SAW AN E. EMAIL THAT CAME THROUGH FROM THE GREATER LOUISVILLE IRVING AND THEY WERE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS AND I THOUGHT, WELL, I'LL TRY IT.

AND IT WAS AN INTENSIVE PROGRAM THAT WENT ON FOR MANY MONTHS, AND IT HAS DIFFERENT MODULES.

AND IT'S REALLY MEANT TO KIND OF GROW YOUR SKILLS IN THOSE AREAS THAT YOU FEEL WEAK AND GET YOU FINANCIALLY LITERATE SO THAT YOU CAN READ A P & L STATEMENT, YOU CAN READ YOUR FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS AND MAKE SOME INTELLIGENT DECISIONS HOW TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS.

AND I'M SUPER THANKFUL FOR JUST THE PEOPLE THAT I MET IN THAT GROUP THAT SUPPORTED ME, WHO ALSO HAD THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES I THINK THERE IS A NATURAL POINTED ABOUT 5 TO 7 YEARS IN WHERE JUST THE GRIND GETS YOU DOWN AND YOU START TO QUESTION LIKE MAN, I COULD GO TO WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE AND I WOULD WORK A LOT FEWER HOURS.

IT TAKES SO MANY HOURS AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

BUT THE JOY I FIND IN CREATING, THE JOY I FIND IN BUILDING A BUSINESS, THE JOY I FIND IN PUTTING A TEAM TOGETHER, AND THE JOY I GET FROM OUR CUSTOMERS, THAT MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

BUT YEAH, THERE WAS A TIME LIKE 5 TO 7 YEARS IN WHERE I THOUGHT MAN, I AM WORKING A LOT AND IT GOT TO BE THAT GRIND STARTED TO GET TO ME.

AND I JUST FOUND THAT THE BETTER THE TEAM I BUILT, THE MORE MOMENTUM I HAD AND THEN I GOT OVER THAT HUMP AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT US NOW.

LET'S DO ANOTHER LITTLE TREATMENT ON HERE.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD HAVE A SPACE THIS GRAND AND THIS LOVELY.

I THINK I NEED TO DREAM A LITTLE BIGGER BECAUSE I THINK I WAS THINKING SMALL AND THIS SPACE, WE CAME FROM A 2500 SQUARE FOOT SPACE AND NOW WE ARE IN 10,000 SQUARE FEET.

AND SO LIKE THE AMOUNT OF FABRIC WE HAVE HAS QUADRUPLED AND WE HAVE A GIANT CLASSROOM AND OUR MACHINES ARE AVAILABLE TO RENT.

SO I JUST, I NEEDED TO DREAM A LITTLE BIT MORE AND OUR COMMUNITY, OUR QUILTING COMMUNITY BEHIND US WAS ALWAYS LIKE, YOU SHOULD DO THIS.

WE WOULD LOVE THIS.

AND WE FINALLY GOT SMART ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND SAID, WE NEED A GRAND SPACE THAT REALLY ELEVATES QUILTING AND THE LOVE OF QUILTING TO A LEVEL THAT WILL PULL PEOPLE IN FROM OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE ALL OVER KENTUCKY AND EVEN STATES AROUND KENTUCKY AS WELL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TIFFANY IS A SMALL BUSINESS COACH FOR LOUISVILLE'S SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

IT HAS BRANCHES ALL OVER THE STATE AND, IN FACT, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AS WELL.

SO WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOMEWHAT MINORITY BUSINESS HUB CERTIFICATION.

EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE WHAT THAT IS AND HOW PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR IT.

>> OKAY, THE MINORITY HUB IS A PROGRAM THAT WE COLLABORATE WITH GLI AND WE HELP PEOPLE WITH THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THINKING THAT WE GET YOU CERTIFIED, THAT WE ARE DOING THE CERTIFICATION BUT WE ARE NOT.

WE HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS.

WE HELP WITH YOU THE APPLICATION.

WE HELP YOU GATHER THE DOCUMENTS YOU NEED.

WE HELP YOU PICK THE CERTIFICATION THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR BUSINESS.

SO YOU JUST DON'T GET CERTIFIED AND YOU REALLY CAN'T USE IT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY DO WITH THE CERTIFICATION HUB.

YOU CAN APPLY ON THE GLI WEBSITE.

YOU CAN GO ON THERE, THERE IS A SPOT YOU CAN CLICK ON AND PUT IN YOUR INFORMATION AND WE LET AN EMAIL AND THE PROCESS STARTS LIKE THAT.

>> THAT'S JUST ONE OF KIND OF THE PROCESSES THAT I FEEL LIKE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS GET BOGS DOWN BY.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT QUILTING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN THEY KIND OF FIND THEMSELVES A LITTLE LOST WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE YOU ALL COME IN.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL DO AS THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND HOW THIS NATIONAL ORGANIZATION IS ALL ABOUT THE LOCAL GROUPS.

>> WE HELP YOU IF YOU ARE IN THE BEGINNING WITH THE IDEA, IF YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OR AT THE END.

OUR MAIN THING IS WE HELP PEOPLE WITH FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS AND THAT'S THE MAIN THING SOMEWHAT SMALL BUSINESSES NEED IS FUNDING SO WE HELP YOU SEE THE REAL PICTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS TO SEE IF YOU ARE SINKING OR SWIMMING.

SO WE HELP WITH BUSINESS PLANNING.

WE HELP WITH MARKETING, KIND OF ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD THINK OF THAT YOU WOULD NEED HELP WITH IN A SMALL BUSINESS.

WE DO PROVIDE SERVICES AT NO COST TO THE CLIENT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO KNOW.

LIKE HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST?

IT'S NOT GOING TO COST YOU ANYTHING.

JUST A LITTLE TIME.

>> YEAH, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU HEAR OFTEN AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO, THERE ARE FEW THAT CAN COME TO YOU AT NO COST.

SO HOW ARE YOU ALL ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND WHAT DO THESE BUSINESSES GET IN RETURN?

>> SO WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AT 2340 COST BECAUSE OF TAX DOLLARS SO WE ARE GETTING PAID.

UNIVERSITIES, AND OTHER DONORS AND SPONSORS THAT COME IN AND SO I LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT SMALL BUSINESSES MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND, THE STATE, YOU KNOW, OPERATE.

SO THEY LIKE TO DONATE TO THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CONSULTATIONS AT NO COST.

>> SO YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AS WELL.

>> YES.

>> WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVED HELP FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

SO TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> MY EXPERIENCE WAS GREAT.

I WENT IN.

I HAD A GREAT IDEA.

I WENT THROUGH SEVERAL COACHES BECAUSE I NEEDED A LOT OF HELP.

AND SO IF IT WASN'T THEIR EXPERTISE, THEY MIGHT HAVE PASSED ME ALONG.

IT ALSO ALLOWED ME TO BE ABLE TO TAKE MYSELF OUT OF MY BUSINESS, BEING COACHED BY A COACH.

AND SO THEN OPPORTUNITY CAME AVAILABLE AND I WANTED TO GIVE BACK BECAUSE THE SERVICES WITH SBDC WERE GREAT.

I'M A BUSINESS OWNER BUT I'M NOT WORKING IN MY BUSINESS CURRENTLY THANKS TO THEM.

>> YEAH, SO YOU WERE ABLE TO, AS YOU SAID, KIND OF BRANCH OUT AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE BUSINESS OWNERS GET STUCK, TOO, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT I SEE WHEN I GET IT.

LIKE HEY, I'M HERE BUT I'M STUCK.

HOW DO I GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

WE DO STRATEGIC PLANNING WITH THEM TO SEE HOW TO GET OVER THE HUMP SO YOU DON'T STAY STUCK.

WE LOOK AT YOUR OVERALL EVERYTHING FROM YOUR FINANCES TO MAYBE YOU MIGHT NEED TO SHUT DOWN.

WE HATE TO SAY THAT.

BUT WE GIVE YOU REAL LIFE PROJECTIONS OF THE STATE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

>> AND SO YOU LIKENED IT TO HAVING A NEWBORN BABY AND THEN HAVING TO GIVE IT AWAY.

KITES KIND OF HARD.

LIKE SENDING IT TO DAYCARE AND YOU ARE GOING TO CALL IN AND CHECK IN.

BUT YOU HAVE TO STEP AWAY AND TAKE YOURSELF OUT TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

YOU CAN'T DO THE BOOK KEEPING.

YOU CAN'T DO THE RUNNING.

YOU CAN'T LIKE WORK IN THE BUSINESS.

YOU CAN'T SERVE THE TABLES.

YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE BACKGROUND CONTROLLING THE BUSINESS.

AND IT'S HARD TO DO.

IT IS YOUR BABY.

>> THAT'S A HARD THING FOR BUSINESS OWNERS TO REALIZE.

SO DO PEOPLE COME TO YOU-- YOU MENTIONED THEY CAN COME TO YOU AT THE IDEA PHASE AND SAY I HAVE AN IDEA.

WHERE DO I GO NEXT?

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME FOR SOMEBODY TO REACH OUT?

>> THE IDEA STAGE BECAUSE THEN WE CAN GET INDUSTRY REPORTS.

WE CAN EVEN SEE IF IT IS A NICHE, EVEN IF IT IS THE IDEA AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST DO IT AS A HOBBY.

WE TAKE THEM AT ALL STAGES.

BUT THAT'S THE BEST STAGE WHERE I FEEL LIKE I CAN BE MORE HELPFUL BECAUSE I GET YOU AT THE BEGINNING.

SO I KIND OF GET YOU BEFORE YOU MAKE SOME MISTAKES.

WE STOP MISTAKES FROM HAPPENING THAT A LOT OF BUSINESSES WHO DID NOT HAVE CONSULTATIONS OR A COACH, YOU KNOW, MAKE, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW.

SO THEY GET A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE EXTRA HELP.

>> YEAH, SO A LOT OF TIMES THEY NEED IT.

OFTEN TIMES.

SPEAKING OF MISTAKES, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES THAT YOU SEE SMALL BUSINESSES MAKE IN THOSE EARLY PHASES?

>> NOT HAVING A BUSINESS PLAN, KEEPING IT ALL IN MY MIND.

EVEN IF IT'S NOT LIKE A 7-10 PAGE BUSINESS PLAN, OR A PROFESSIONAL ONE, YOU STILL NEED AN OUTLINE, LEAST ONE PAGE.

YOU CAN EVEN DO A BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS BUT IT HELPS YOU KNOW YOUR ROAD TO SUCCESS.

>> OKAY.

AND THEN WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOP PIECES OF ADVICE YOU GIVE TO SMALL BUSINESSES?

IF YOU HAD TO PICK LIKE THESE ARE MY TOP THREE PIECES OF ADVICE TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

>> NEVER STOP LEARNING ABOUT YOUR INDUSTRY.

NETWORK AND MARKET.

ANYBODY THAT YOU MEET SHOULD KNOW THAT YOU OWN A BUSINESS.

THOSE ARE MY TOP THREE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE AND ALL OF OUR EPISODES ONLINE ANY TIME.

YOU CAN KIND US AT KET.ORG/INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

PLUS, IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE FROM BEHIND THE SCENES - CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM.

YOU CAN HEAR THE TOP PIECES OF ADVICE FROM OUR EXPERT AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

YOU CAN FOLLOW AND SHARE AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪