This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

[♪] It's Your Business with Michael Aikens is brought to you by WCTE PBS, and the Tennessee Tech Center for Rural Innovation, with funding provided by the Rural Reimagine Grand Challenge and the Tennessee Rural Development Fund.

If you have an idea that you've been wanting to turn into a business, or if you already have started a business and would like to see that business flourish, then you've come to the right place, because that is exactly what this show is all about.

We love to see small businesses thrive, and the Upper Cumberland is a great place that cultivates small businesses.

So join us as we learn valuable tips and advice from those who have made the move to starting their own business, and find out what worked and what didn't work for these brave entrepreneurs.

[♪♪] With a creative eye for design and a drive to get things done.

Raven Young has built a business in McMinnville, Tennessee that has not only helped many people spice up their businesses or homes with beautiful designs, but she has also helped to revitalize a part of McMinnville that had seemingly been forgotten.

With empty buildings and rundown structures.

Now, this area has come to life with new businesses and new living spaces, and there are many more ideas for even more rennovations in the future.

[♪♪] We're here in McMinnville, Tennessee talking with Raven.

Young owner of Raven Young Designs.

Raven.

Welcome to the show.

Thank you so much.

Thanks for having me.

So let's start out with the basics.

Raven young interior design.

What is it?

So I work hand-in-hand with clients to, do remodels.

Different remodels, such as kitchen and bath remodels, home remodels.

If they're looking for Maybe just flooring or cabinets and things of that nature.

So I will work with the client from start to finish.

So we'll go through the whole design process, you know, gut the kitchen or bathroom, whichever it is, and then put it all back together.

And then I also have some my own projects.

So we work on a lot of different things.

But it's a lot of fun and we're certainly going to get into all of that.

But what I'm really curious about is let's focus on interior design for a moment.

How did you get into this?

So I have known that I wanted to be an interior designer since I was probably like in third grade.

Like this has always been life goal.

Actually, my great grandmother on my dad's side of the family was a interior designer.

Back then, it would have been more like an interior decorator.

And that's what a lot of people think interior design is, that it's just strictly decorating.

But it's so much more.

So I really enjoy the creative aspect of it that you get with the decorating, I guess, but I enjoy so much of getting into the guts of a project.

Doing floor plans, learning about the electrical, the plumbing and everything that goes into it how a space is actually made.

And so I went to school for interior design.

I graduated from UTC in Chattanooga.

I am actually a licensed interior designer, and that's actually a three part test that goes to it.

But so it's it's a very long process, a several years to actually go through and do.

But it gives you that additional accreditation.

But it also gives you a lot more knowledge.

So I first of all, didn't realize that much went into it.

And I'm willing to bet that, you know, having this accreditation also gives your clients that confidence that not only are you going to be able to come in there and make it look good, you're going to make it right.

And make it safe.

Yes, because that's a big thing about it is it's functionality, but it's also the health and the wellness and safety of the spaces that I'm working on for clients.

I want them to be able to live here for the next hundred years.

You know, I don't want it to be something that falls down.

Obviously, my name's on that as well, but it has to be safe and it has to function well as well as the esthetically pleasing.

So you've got all this knowledge, you've got your accreditation, your license, all of that.

And on top of it all, you're running your own business too.

Now, is that typical for interior designers?

I know a lot of interior designers that do work for themselves.

I also, I mean, I know several that work for firms as well.

You got to kind of find your niche in what you want to do.

But it is very frequent that a lot of interior designers will actually open their own firm and work for themselves.

Kind of for me, with especially some of my other projects that we work on for ourselves, it kind of just made sense.

I was able to set my business up to where I have all of the suppliers.

So, you know, my cabinet lines, my flooring lines, things like that.

I work with the actual manufacturer and distributor of those to then be able to pass that along straight to my client in that way.

So I was able to, market myself and set myself up for what I want to do and how I want to work.

And now you're living your dream.

Yeah.

Lifelong goal.

Here it is.

You've got your own business.

You're an interior designer.

So did you have business background?

How did you learn?

Yes.

So I worked for another company for a long time in Chattanooga.

And there we did.

We did similar things.

We did remodels and construction.

But I also, actually did the office management side of that as well.

I actually didn't major in business or anything in college.

Probably would have been helpful if I did, but I focused my my major was interior design, and, so there's a lot on the business side goes that, I did learn previously when I was working in that position, and it really did help set me up for being able to do my own job.

So your interior designing, you're running your own business, but that's not enough.

You've got so many other special projects going on.

Tell us, what else are you getting into?

Okay, so, and I will say that's actually one thing that I love about being, I guess my own boss is that I can make my own schedule and I can do other things that I think are important for the community.

And so with that is I actually work hand in hand or I'm on the main street, McMinnville Board of Directors.

Also actually on our historic zoning commission here locally for the city of McMinnville.

I'm also a, radio host for Town Talk in the mornings.

I really like to stay busy.

I think I'm not really great at downtime.

And I think that's very similar of a lot of entrepreneurs.

I think they like to work.

I really enjoy, especially working with McMinnville and being able to, I guess, kind of give back to the community in a sense, but also work with so many other different entrepreneurs, local business owners that are making a difference in our community.

So we're doing this interview in your building.

Yes.

This is your office.

Yes.

But I'm looking around.

I'm hearing a lot of construction and renovation going on.

What's.?

Yeah.

So, in 2019, I guess it probably was.

We started working on floor plans and the planning phase to renovate our first floor of this property.

This building was historically locally known as Fraley's Furniture.

They were open from 1945 to 2001.

So it was a really a staple of our community for a long time.

And the building sat vacant for a long time.

And so we renovated the whole first floor.

And now we are in the process of renovating the upstairs.

So we're going to have ten apartments in the on the second and the third floor of this building.

Let's recap.

If you're a business owner, you're doing interior design, you're on Main Street, you have a radio show.

Yeah.

You also have to have personal life.

How are you balancing all of this?

Luckily, my husband likes to work as much as I do, I think.

So my husband, he is a nurseryman.

We actually own a farm out in the area.

And that's what he's done his whole life.

And he is my biggest support system, obviously.

If we're not at home working on something, we're up here working on something, and it's a great work life balance.

I think with him, we, like I said, we both work a lot, but, it's what we both enjoy, and we know that about each other.

And, we've actually been together for a long time.

We'll be married ten years this year, actually.

So, But no, it's him, and it's my family.

So my grandfather is actually, my business partner on a lot of this stuff.

Our, our building here.

And so we work hand in hand.

And so it's really a great support system behind it.

Now you alluded to this earlier, but I want to dive a little bit deeper.

So obviously, you know you're doing this for business purposes and that's great.

But in the process you have a direct hand in revitalizing your town.

How does that make you feel?

So I really want to give credit to the other business owners that helped make this happen, because I can do the renovations all day long.

But if there are other like minded entrepreneurs and individuals that want to open up a business, then then what's the point of renovating a space, you know?

And so I think credit really goes to the other local businesses, especially the ones that I have as tenants that care about their community as much as I do to open their own business and put themselves out there as well.

But I also I think it's very important that we preserve our history to make sure the 100 years from now, these buildings and this history is still here.

So that's a lot of it for me, as well as being able to preserve that for future generations.

I love it and I enjoy it, but it it's a collective effort for sure.

People may be watching the show and thinking, you know, I could be a Raven Young, I could do my own thing.

Whether it's interior design or something.

Yeah.

Like what advice would you give to them?

Oh man, I would say find what makes you happy?

If you don't enjoy what you do, then what's the point?

You know, so find what makes you happy, what you really enjoy.

And dive headfirst into it.

I mean, take a chance because yes, I previously worked for someone at another company, but decided to take the chance and work for myself and and it has worked out for me.

But I'm so much happier and I have, like, some more time to invest in nonprofits and local community efforts.

Things that I may not have been able to do before.

And all of that is because one, I took the chance.

But I'm doing something that I love, so it makes it very rewarding.

So, I definitely say find what, Find what makes you happy.

And go for it.

Well, last question for you.

We look through the past.

Let's look to the future.

What does it hold for you?

Oh, a lot, hopefully a lot actually, I can't there's some things I can't talk about.

As far as I have some things in the works, that I'm trying to make happen, and, I can't I can't put them out there yet just because they're in the process.

But I have some really exciting things I'm working on that I hope come to fruition.

Well, Raven, it sounds like your future is bright and busy.

Yeah.

Very busy.

Thank you so much for being on the show.

Thank you.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Thank you to everybody that's watching and that keeps your show alive.

So thank you so much.

[♪] In our next story we visit two cranky ladies in Pikeville, Tennessee But don't let that name fool you.

These are two of the nicest ladies you'll ever meet, and they have made a business of making people smile and laugh, using a little known form of entertainment that involves something called a cranky.

And if you don't know what that is, you're not alone.

I didn't either, so come along and we'll find out together.

[♪♪] We're here in Pikeville, Tennessee, talking with Joyce Carroll and Sherida Black, the crankie ladies.

Joyce and Sherida, Welcome to the show.

Thank you, Michael, it's good to be with you.

So, the Crankie Ladies, tell us more about yourselves and what you do.

Well, the first question we probably get is why do we call ourselves the Crankie Ladies?

And, there's an explanation for that.

And it's not because we're hard to get along with or fussy.

It's because we discovered a few years ago, a new form of entertainment, new for us, but not new in terms of history.

That involves making for us a wooden box and also a scroll of paper that runs through that box with artwork on it, so it can incorporate storytelling and music.

But the box itself is called a crankie so hence the name.

It's been around a long time.

Victorians were really big and creating toys that were and came in a little picture box, and that had a scroll that would crank from one side to the other.

Tell me a little bit more about how you actually put your show on your performance.

What is that like?

Well, Joyce and I are both interested in things of the past, and so in our minds, we always wanted to make sure the kids remembered the past two.

And, we would pick out old folk songs to sing that would tell a story that the kids are learning while they're having fun.

And we're having fun.

So it sounds to me like not only are you entertainers, you've got a message to give.

Oh, we both love to teach, and we also like to involve the kids when we do a crankie performance.

We try to incorporate these kids into it by either singing along if it's a song or some kind of a call and response, and the kids really enjoy it.

And, to see their response to something that's so different, you know, in this day of, digital entertainment and, to see their response to something that's so organic and, historical, like.

I know it's amazing how much they truly enjoy it.

And in the beginning, I think that was a thought in our head where they're so used to all the electronics how are they going to take this?

I mean, it's a scroll on paper with pictures and we're telling the story.

You can't get simpler than that.

But when you involve the kids in it, it's a whole different story.

They they love it.

It's completely different.

They're learning.

So we'll dive a little bit deeper.

What are some of the stories that you're telling on the Crankie?

Well, for instance, Sherida mentioned the song music is one direction we always head towards.

But, when I decided to do the first crankie story for myself, I decided I wanted to make it pretty personal.

So I actually told a story of my grandmother and and related how she grew up, the things that she experienced and living in the country in a very rural time.

When you're doing your performances, where would I expect to see the Crankie Ladies?

Well, our favorite spots are in intimate settings.

The crankie is, it's not a big screen TV, you know, and we enjoy the interaction with the kids more that way, too.

Let's take a little bit of a turn.

You know, obviously, you know, the art is the most important part of this, but I'm willing to bet there's a business aspect to.

So let's start thinking in those terms.

So tell me a little bit about first of all, how do you find places to go and how do you actually set that up?

A lot of work and research and word of mouth, you know, typically, you know, one performance might lead to 1 or 2 more.

Someone in the audience will will see us and then think of an event.

Festival.

We've been to the Fanny Moffett Stomp festival over in Altamont.

And it was because of a library performance that she and the mayor invited us to come over there for their festival.

And unfortunately, I'm not too tech savvy, so I know that's an area we need to delve into deeper, but, primarily word of mouth people that see us perform.

All right, so you got word of mouth.

People are inviting you to places.

You've got to make this worth your time.

Obviously, it's a passion.

But, you know, at the end of the day, you you have to make ends meet.

So walk me through a little bit about how you are actually figuring that out and setting that up and making it a business.

Really.

As an artist, that is the hardest part of what we do, because you want everybody to enjoy and experience what you do.

And and I would love to be able to do things for free.

And we do that on occasion too.

And so figuring out, our expenses and time has been the hardest part as an artist.

And I think any artist out there to put a price on whatever art it is you're doing and it's it's a hard formula.

But we we try to work with our community leaders and oftentimes they, they do come through.

So you mentioned that you started out as a ventriloquist.

How did you get into that?

But also how do you do ventriloquism?

Well, as a kid I was extremely shy.

It just seems like the most unlikely profession for me to choose as a ten year old.

But there was a gentleman and his wife came to our church for a, you know, Vacation Bible school one summer, and he was a ventriloquist.

I'd never seen one prior to that.

I probably had seen Edgar Bergen, so older ventriloquist on television.

I knew and was aware of him.

Bob never witnessed it live.

So to see this performance live, I was absolutely smitten with it.

And the same way a musician might see a musician that inspires them.

And so that year, that's really all I wanted for Christmas.

And I asked my folks, I said, can I, can I get a ventriloquist figure?

And, they obliged me.

So it was just a toy out of the Sears and Roebuck catalog, and I think they assumed it might be a passing interest.

But after about 2 or 3 years, I had some teachers, course leaders in school were asking me to come participate in presentations, and my folks quickly realized that, hey, you're she's pretty serious face.

It's not a phase.

So I would just practice in front of the mirror and was really happy to have a family that was supportive and a younger brother who I guess was my first audience.

You know, he would interact a lot, and the neighbors, friends that came by.

Well, you've got ventriloquism.

Tell us a little bit about your past and you know your experiences.

What led you to this?

Well, I think originally I caught the acting bug when I was 12 years old in my first play, The King and I in Waycross, Georgia.

And then from there, as I grew up and the kids and my children grew up, we just became a theater family.

And so all of my kids and even my husband, was in the theater.

So you're a couple artists, obviously you got the business.

So a lot of artists may be watching the show thinking, how would I do this for myself?

What advice would you give to them?

Well, you know, I've I've always tried to impress upon my kids to find things that they're passionate about and and do it.

Do it every day or as often as you can.

And if you can't do it every day, or you go through a spell of time where you're finding it hard to get your creative thoughts going, don't don't think it's over.

You know, we all have those those times as an artist where it's it's hard to find your motivation or know what direction to go into.

But I try to think towards the future and what I can do today or tomorrow and, and not get hung up too much on the past or what I have accomplished.

That's hard.

As an artist, you think, well, maybe I should have done more or she should be at a different place by now as a performer or an artist or a business person.

But you know, today's the first day of the rest of your life.

So you should, you know, grab it by the horns when you can.

When you look into the future what does it hold for The Crankie Ladies?

We've talked recently about, you know, getting into the digital world a little bit more and, you know, presenting some storytelling.

There are a lot of things we're interested in that's the problem.

We have to work on what we are passionate about.

At the time.

Sherida, Joyce, sounds like a wonderful partnership.

The future sounds bright for you all.

Thank you so much for being on our show.

Well, thank you for letting us for having us.

[♪♪] The Business Resource Collective is a partnership of organizations including the Biz Foundry, the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Upper Cumberland Development District, Tennessee Tech Center for Rural Innovation and WCTE, the central Tennessee PBS affiliate.

These organizations understand that the journey to becoming an entrepreneur is different for everyone, and can seem scary and overwhelming in the beginning stages to take those first baby steps.

The Biz Foundry is an excellent resource.

Their an entrepreneurship center that is dedicated to helping you turn your business ideas into a reality and aid nonprofit organizations as well.

The Biz Foundry is a nonprofit themselves, so they understand the need for free and affordable small business help, and they can provide just that.

Most known for their free workshops.

Start up your startup and test it before you invest it.

The Biz Foundry will give you the tools to build a strong foundation as you begin your small business.

The Biz Foundry isn't only a place for startup businesses who are looking for supportive connections within an entrepreneurial ecosystem, but they also offer rentable co-working spaces.

If you prefer not to work from home, or if you need a space that is affordable and provides everything you need to be successful, a co-working space is perfect for you.

These spaces provide colored printing, a private phone booth for important conference calls, room to host your business events, or your basic conference rooms to meet with your customers or colleagues.

Connecting with the Biz Foundry is a great place to start if you're not sure where to begin, and they also have multiple locations depending on where you are located.

Here in the Upper Cumberland.

Check out their website and find them on social media to connect with the Biz Foundry today.

Being an entrepreneur can bring on so many rewards, but also comes with its own challenges.

You don't have to face these challenges alone due to the small business resources available right here in the Upper Cumberland.

Another great organization is the Small Business Development Center at the Upper Cumberland Development District in Cookeville, Tennessee.

The TSBDC for short offers free business coaching for any phase of business.

Your personal advisor focuses on helping your small business overcome all the challenges and roadblocks you may face during your journey.

As a new or a seasoned entrepreneur, your personal advisor can help you redefine your business idea.

Give you the tools to create a business plan, help with assessing your finances, and even give you important funding information or assist in the loan application process.

449 00:23:24,002 --> 00:23:26,071 If you have successfully sustained your business and are ready for retirement, the TSBDC can also assist with your legacy planning as you prepare for a new life of retirement.

Whether you're looking to grow, scale, maintain, or transition out of your business, connecting with the TSBDC is a fantastic free resource to take advantage of.

Are you ready to connect?

Visit their website now to find and schedule an appointment with your own personal advisor.

The Upper Cumberland region is a great place for entrepreneurs to start or expand their business.

Due to the tremendous growth in tourism, economic development and overall prosperity.

And that's where the center for Rural Innovation comes in.

They offer free technical assistance available for local entrepreneurs and organizations in our rural region that can assist with a variety of business needs.

So you may be thinking exactly what is technical assistance?

Well, technical assistance is providing support to an organization or small business with a development need or issue.

Our community has benefited from the help and technical assistance that's provided by Tennessee Tech University.

Tennessee Tech developed the center for Rural Evolution program, whose goal is to create companies and build economic development by providing technical assistance to Main Street businesses and entrepreneurs within the tourism, technology, innovation, retail, agriculture and more sectors.

The center for Rural Innovation has been able to provide interns to small businesses and different chambers of commerce in the Upper Cumberland.

The Center for Rural Innovation interns have created tourism branding packages, logos, marketing materials and have even built one page websites at no cost for small businesses.

If you're a small business or a nonprofit that's focused on saving money, especially when it comes to needing these types of services, but you can't afford to pay a big company price.

The Center for Rural Innovation is a perfect fit and at no cost to you or your business.

In closing, we've had a fantastic season four of It's Your Business and I want to thank all of our viewers, our guests, and the organizations who continue to provide amazing resources for our Upper Cumberland community.

A big special thanks to WCTE the Central Tennessee PBS affiliate, who gives us a voice and supportive platform to continue inspiring education, fostering innovation, and assist in strengthening the vitality of our region.

For more information on today's topics, please visit the WCTE website and to learn more about free small business resources and expert assistance, visit the Business Resource Collective website.

Until next time, I'm Michael Aikins.

To learn more about Free Small business, register [inaudible} Resources.

[gibber jabber] 500 00:26:05,797 --> 00:26:07,832 Without that first hop [gibber jabber] 502 00:26:09,334 --> 00:26:10,502 I don't know.

A Latte about coffee?

[gibber jabber] It's Your Business with Michael Aikens is brought to you by WCTE, PBS, and the Tennessee Tech Center for Rural Innovation, with funding provided by the Rural Reimagine Grand Challenge and the Tennessee Rural Development Fund.

This program was made possible by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.