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Community Spotlight: Backing Women Business Owners on Main Streets
October is National Women’s Small Business Month! In May of this year, American Express’ Inclusive Backing grant program, administered by Main Street America, awarded grants to sixty small business owners who identified as women, non-binary, or US military veterans. We spoke to three of the awardees to learn more about their businesses, their journeys, and their advice for aspiring women business owners.
Luxurious Wellniss is a skin lab in Orange, New Jersey that focuses on hyperpigmentation. After a 20+ year career in fashion and entertainment, Felicia decided to attend cosmetology school and open her own business. “During that journey, I fell in love with skin and skincare all over again,” said Felicia, “educating and helping people love and take better care of the skin they’re in.”
Unfortunately, she faced a significant challenge right from the start due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I launched my business in January 2020, and two months later the world shut down,” said Felicia. “I didn't know what to do and how I was going to make a dime with no real social following.” She didn’t panic, and instead used lessons from her previous career to surmount these obstacles. “Community is currency, being able to solve problems in the community and giving back to each other is what makes Main Street work,” advises Felicia. “Without the community and word of mouth I wouldn’t be on a path to our 3-year anniversary!”
“My proudest success so far has been giving my clients their confidence back,” said Felicia. “So many were suffering in silence, and were taking multiple prescriptions, spending tons of money experimenting in unimaginable ways, just to have clear skin to face the world on a zoom or just get back to work/ school.” Helping people heal their skin and find new confidence is Felicia’s passion, and this drives her business’ success.
Felicia urges other women who want to start their own businesses to take the leap and go for it. “I started with a little, bootstrapping chipping away at my savings to build up little by little and keep pouring into myself and believing it can and will work,” she remembered. “Until you put yourself out there, you won’t know how to improve, you won’t know how great you really are.”
SprayChic Airbrush Tanning is a salon located in Wixom, Michigan. Carissa decided to open the business following her divorce in 2007. “I had received a congratulatory gift from my divorce attorney when it was final, and it was a gift certificate for an in-home massage,” remembered Carissa. “As I was getting ready for this pampering service, I was reflecting on how this was the type of thing that my ex-husband would've done for me.” As a redhead, she had always wished for a tan, but was not a fan of tanning beds or spray tan booths. “I thought about how convenient it would be to be able to offer working moms spray tans in their home just like this in-home massage that I was about to receive,” said Carissa. Within a few days, she began researching similar businesses, investing in equipment, and by July 2008, seeing clients.
Her proudest success was when she relocated to her downtown space in Wixom. This move allowed her to expand her business through additional space, and because of this she has hired new staff. Her biggest challenge has been the lack of training opportunities for her craft." I am self-taught and extremely grateful to my friends and family that were willing to be guinea pigs!” said Carissa.
“I'm honored to have had the opportunity to serve on the board for the Wixom Downtown Development Authority and am now Vice Chairperson of the Board,” said Carissa. Through the Wixom DDA and Main Street Oakland County, she has received an Invest Here grant, attended workshops, and explored professional growth opportunities.
Carissa recommends that aspiring women business owners investigate the resources offered by their local Main Street program and other economic development organizations. “I am forever grateful to Great Lakes Women’s Business Council for the financing opportunity that they have provided me over the years,” she said. “Without that relationship I would've never been able to grow my business to where it is today.”
Pono Boutique is a skincare & waxing boutique/day spa in San Francisco, California. They offer facials, full body hair removal, and other services, as well as selling skincare products, jewelry, and artisan goods. “Our boutique serves as a space for the community to come together,” said Debra. “We welcome our guests into our sacred space and offer beautifying treatments that nourish and nurture them.”
“I wanted to create a safe, inviting space for where the community could gather and experience what it is like to be in a ‘ladies’ barbershop,” said Debra of her motivation for opening her own business. She was also driven by her passion for her craft and a desire to be able to practice in her own style. She faced some initial challenges when starting her business, including lack of access to resources and support for crucial things like creating a business plan, writing a budget, or accessing capital. “In general, the biggest challenge was not knowing how to navigate the small business environment,” remembered Debra. “The lessons learned were to stay the course, maintain a positive attitude and to learn how to navigate a world that was foreign to me and continue to pivot.”
Despite these challenges, Debra is proud of what she has achieved. “Given the general environment women owned businesses have to deal with and, most recently, the pandemic, I am most proud that my business is still standing post COVID-19,” said Debra.
“My advice would be to find your support system and structure for building your business prior and/or at the onset of the creation of the business,” recommends Debra. “It is important to know how to navigate the business process - meaning having the ability to create a business plan in place, knowing your local small business associations (SBAs), and knowing how and where to look for initial startup financial support.”
Urban Impact Inc., harnesses strategic investments and collaborative efforts to foster a vibrant and sustainable future, from visionary adaptive reuse ventures to transformative development grants for small businesses and property owners in Birmingham, Alabama's historic 4th Avenue Black Business District.
In the last episode of season two of Main Street Business Insights, tune in as host Matt Wagner breaks down how to understand and synthesize local market data.
Sterling Main Street launched a brick and mortar retail incubator spaces. Executive Director Janna Groharing shares lessons they learned about organization, fundraising, and outreach.
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Glen Ellis, owner of Sycamore Education, Dominion Catalyst Services, and Milady Coffeehouse in Fremont, Nebraska.
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Jaime Courtney, President of Shoalwater Seafood, Derek King, Oyster Farm Director of Shoalwater Seafood, and Shane Thomas, Tribal Council Vice Chair of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe.
Sarah Cole, owner of Abadir’s in Greensboro, Ala., was a 2023 Backing Small Businesses grantee. Abadir’s is a pop-up eatery specializing in seasonal and wholesome baked goods influenced by Egyptian traditions and flavors combined with inspiration from true Southern cuisine.
In this episode of the Main Street Business Insights podcast, Matt sits down with Casey Woods, Executive Director of Emporia Main Street in Emporia, Kansas.
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Nicole Fleetwood and McKinzie Hodges, co-owners of Scratch Made Bakery in Amarillo, Texas.
Tylisya Gober, owner of Barbie Behavior Boutique in Oak Park, Mich., was a 2023 Backing Small Businesses grantee. Barbie Behavior is a women’s clothing boutique specializing in celebrity-inspired attire.
Tiffany Fixter, owner of Brewability in Englewood, Colorado, was a 2023 Backing Small Businesses grantee. Brewability is an inclusive brewery and pizzeria that employs adults with disabilities to brew craft beer.
We’re excited to announce that Main Street America will continue to offer virtual and on-demand small business training in 2024 through an evolved program, the Small Biz Digital Trainers program.
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Jennifer Jones, co-owner of Good Times Coal Fired Pizza and Pub in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Tiffany Fixter, owner of Brewability, an inclusive craft brewery and pizzeria that employs adults with disabilities based in Englewood,
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Bobby Boone, founder and Chief Strategist of &Access. Based in New Orleans, La., &Access creates data-driven and design-centric retail real estate solutions for historically excluded entrepreneurs and under-invested neighborhoods.
Tasha Sams, Manager of Education Programs, shares highlights of phase one of the Equitable Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (E3) in Rural Main Streets Program and the biggest takeaways from the workshop experiences.
In this video, learn more about the Williams’ family story, how the business is helping to revive downtown Helena, and the impact they’re having on a national level.
In this episode of Main Street Business Insights, Matt sits down with Derrick Braziel, owner of Pata Roja Taqueria and co-founder of MORTAR, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Small Business Saturday is an important opportunity to show your support for local businesses. We asked business owners across the network what your support means to them.
Matt sits down with Jamie and Jerry Baker, co-owners and founders of Trendy Teachers, a teaching boutique and educational toy store located in downtown Rome, Georgia.
Middlesboro Main Street in Middlesboro, Ky., Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Chicago, Ill., and Sugar Creek Business Association in Charlotte, N.C., have each been awarded $100,000 through The Hartford Small Business Accelerator Grant Program in partnership with Main Street America.
Matt sat down with Anette Soto Landeros, co-owner of Casa Azul Coffee and President and CEO of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Fort Worth, Texas.
Matt Wagner sat down with Danny Reynolds, president and owner of Stephenson's, an independently owned high-end fashion retailer in downtown Elkhart, Indiana.
Matt Wagner sat down with The Barbershop Conversation podcast team, co-hosts Kenneth Bentley and Davion Hampton along with executive producer Emory Green Jr., in Goldsboro, Florida.
This three-week live, online course will prepare local leaders to more effectively work with small business owners in their districts and create an environment that is supportive of entrepreneurship.
Meet the 2023 recipients for the Backing Small Businesses grant program, presented by American Express, to provide financial support to small business owners to address critical needs and make a positive impact in their local communities.
In partnership with Grow with Google, our digital coaches will work with businesses in their home states, with a focus on those that operate in small towns and rural communities.
Check out a deep dive into the results of our Spring 2023 Small Business Survey, plus insights to help inform the work of local leaders supporting entrepreneurs on Main Street.
Matt Wagner wrote an article for the OECD blog on how can small business owners can combine digital tools with the power of place to find sustainable success.
Inspired by a session at the 2022 Main Street Now Conference, Main Street Ottumwa has launched the Business Builder Academy, an entrepreneurship course to help aspiring business owners start their ventures.
Whether you are a seasoned American Express Small Business Saturday Neighborhood Champion or an entrepreneur joining this national movement for the first time, we’ve gathered a roundup of resources to support your “shop local” marketing efforts.
From social media scavenger hunts to downtown passports, the Main Street network has used countless innovative ways to encourage their communities to Shop Small®—and had plenty of fun doing it.
#EquityRising, Old Algiers Main Street Corporation's new job training program, seeks to combat rising cost of living by helping residents train for careers that will allow them to stay in their neighborhood.
We spoke to three Black business owners who were awarded Backing Small Businesses grants from Main Street America and American Express to better understand their challenges, successes, and the kinds of support that have helped them the most.
Main Street Skowhegan opened their new Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship, a downtown space for co-working, meeting, entrepreneurial support, trainings, and education.
Main Street Charles City organizes their annual 'WonderFall' event, a business decorating contest designed to have some fun with the autumnal season as well as provide a reminder of the importance of curb appeal in attracting the public’s attention.
Leverage NC, a partnership between North Carolina Main Street and the North Carolina League of Municipalities, hosted a four-part webinar series titled Better Community Planning & Economic Development led by Ed McMahon, Chair Emeritus of Main Street America and a leading national authority on land use policy and economic development.
Main Street Arkansas has brewed a new engaging way for tourists and residents alike to explore local Arkansas commercial districts: the Main Street Arkansas Coffee Trail.
We spoke with two Black entrepreneurs in UrbanMain commercial districts: L. May Creations in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago and The Four Way in south Memphis, Tennessee.
We heard from organizations across the nation about the incredible impact their markets have had on community engagement, entrepreneur and small business support, and keeping their district vibrant.
The global pandemic gave us all a glimpse of a further dispersed future – a time when you don’t sit in a classroom at school, watch movies in a theater, or even go to the grocery store. Where do Main Streets fit in that model?
Being the only person in the know can be fun, exhilarating even. Except when you are the one person out of 600+ in a room and you know bad news is coming.
Fritz the dog has made his way into the hearts of the residents of LaBelle, Florida, and helped our Main Street Community find a way to make what we do more noticeable.
Altavista On Track, the local Main Street organization, is working to cultivate and sustain local entrepreneurs with an educational business launch competition, Pop-Up Altavista 2.0.
The first rule of conducting business is “make it simple.” The easier it is to pay for merchandise, get entertainment or obtain a service, the more likely it is that people will take advantage of those options.
Main Street communities across the country are no stranger to seeking creative strategies to solve their most nagging issues – vacant buildings, marketing downtown, bolstering retail to name a few.
To understand the role that immigrant business owners play in Boston’s small business ecosystem, you need only to walk through any Boston Main Streets district.
A lot of signs are necessary to make a downtown work well, but not every community knows what a good sign system looks like, or how instrumental it can be to the creation of a successful downtown.
Main Street Iowa, a program of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center, created a one-of-a-kind three-year program to provide help for performance venues located in Main Street districts.