THE DREAM never ultimately left Kyle. Night after night, he faithfully clocked into his job at the auto manufacturing plant. There were weeks it didn’t once cross his mind. There were weeks it was the only thing keeping him going. On his breaks and while he was winding down before going to bed before the next shift, looking at his social media, he saw something other than missing dogs and memes; he saw the connection to his future and unfulfilled dreams.
Social media was not mindless scrolling to him; it was a means to connect people to places, purposes, and platforms that enrich their lives and shape their future. He analyzed post after post – from fonts to graphics to content – looking for ways he’d improve it and use it to serve the customer’s needs better. He believed he saw details often overlooked, essential nuances that would stop the scrolling and nudge a closer look at the merits of the post. He had researched precisely how many words would typically show before you had to click to show more, recognizing the importance of grabbing attention from the beginning.
He knew he should search for jobs with existing digital media and information system companies, but his dream had always been to own the company and have total control over the direction it took. But startup took resources he didn’t have.
Resources do exist, and the cities of Franklin County welcome new businesses.
According to the State of Tennessee’s website, small businesses make up the majority of all companies in Tennessee. New and existing companies have support in many places. The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce is a great first stop.
The Chamber is connection-driven, focusing on bringing together businesses and their customers. It’s a hub of activity for new and existing businesses with ongoing events and tools to lighten the load.
The 2022 Membership Benefits Guide published by the Chamber explains their Business Expo & Marketplace and provides an opportunity for your business to set up a booth with over 85+ local businesses. Here you can network, meet new customers, gain exposure, introduce new products, and build relationships that will lead to new growth and production.
Networking is a vital tool for establishing and maintaining connections. The Chamber has it covered with its monthly Coffee Connection. It’s a fun monthly networking event designed to enable you to connect with new opportunities and gain support for your business.
Lunch & Learn seminars are free to Chamber members and combine a meal and a professional speaker. These seminars cover relevant topics such as advertising, social media marketing, technology tips, and other areas helpful to business owners.
Kayla Doney, director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, said, “We can refer anyone desiring to start their own business to small business counselors. If they already have their business plan and are ready to open, we encourage them to join the Chamber and plan a ribbon-cutting event, participate in our networking, and grow their customer base.” -GN