August 2024 - 45

MANAGEMENT
owed it to myself to try,
I was enjoying owning
a business. Deciding
on a location was easy
too, I knew I wanted my
shop to be in Historic
Sykesville, Maryland.
Lesson 3: Location,
location, location.
A good location is
a must for a retail
business.
Sykesville was voted
one of America's
Coolest and Best
Small Towns in Budget
Travel magazine. It
has a charming street
packed with many
small businesses
and a handful of
wonderful restaurants.
I always loved going
to Sykesville to shop,
eat and meet up
with friends. I knew
immediately that a
houseplant shop would
be a wonderful addition
to this destination
town. Sykesville is
heavily trafficked and
easily accessible.
Lesson 4: Connect with
the local community.
You might have a
I wanted to hire
individuals who are
neurodiverse. My
younger brother is
neurodiverse and
because of him I have
had the opportunity
to be connected to
this community all
my life. I wanted
to be an employer
who provides
opportunities to
those who might not
receive it elsewhere.
Putting yourself out there can
be nerve-wracking and anxiety
provoking, but conversations are the
building blocks of every business.
wonderful location but
there will always be
people who haven't heard of you. So
how do you reach them? I have a very
good social media presence on both
Instagram and Facebook. What about
the people who aren't on social media?
Becoming a member of the county
chamber of commerce has proven
to be a worthwhile endeavor. The
chamber advertises to a demographic
beyond typical social media but, more
importantly, it has been a network
of contacts, resources and local
businesses whom I have been able to
lean on for guidance and advice.
Being involved with the chamber
and sponsoring events allows for
networking opportunities, connecting
with people in the community and
building partnerships with other
businesses. Getting your name and
your business name out there by
talking face to face has been one of
the best marketing strategies for me.
Lesson 5: Give back to the
community that gives to you.
Giving back has always been a huge
pillar of my business. Every month I
choose a local nonprofit to donate a
portion of my monthly sales to. This is
another opportunity for continuing my
community connections. Additionally,
as soon as I was financially able,
Lesson 6: Not
everyone will like
your business - and
that is okay.
The community
has been very
supportive of
BotaniGal, and 99%
of the feedback
I have received
about my business
has been positive
- except for one
not-so-great Google
review. Initially, I was
distraught over it.
I took it personally,
but ultimately you
can be the ripest
peach on the vine
and there will always
be someone who
doesn't like peaches.
Even on the hard
days, the experience of business
ownership has been incredible. I
started with two small stands in the
back of a farm market, and today I am
in my second, expanded brick-andmortar
location. Anytime someone
comes to me wanting to start a
business, I always urge them to do so,
but you don't have to do it alone. Your
customers and community are a huge
support system, and I've learned it's
important to use them.
Hannah Brookfield is the founder
of BotaniGal and can be reached at
botanigal@yahoo.com.
LGRMAG.COM | 45
http://www.LGRMAG.COM
August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2024
