May 4 through May 8 was National Small Business Week, an annual, week-long celebration designed to recognize small businesses and the contributions they make to the economy.
“Small, local businesses are the backbone of our economy,” says Tom Donaldson, Regional Director of the SBDC. “The eight businesses that were spotlighted demonstrate what a positive effect our small businesses have on a community—they create jobs, offer unique services and products to specialized markets, revitalize old buildings and neighborhoods, and create destination shopping districts.”
Among the eight businesses local to Lansing; Preuss Pets, MessageMakers, Piper & Gold Public Relations, Mother and Earth Baby Boutique, and Craig Mitchell Smith are all local to Old Town. Glow Social Media relocated from Atlanta, GA to REO Town. Duckett Brothers Distributing and Red Fox Comics are Lansing area businesses, as well, sharing the acclaim of National Small Business Week.
“Wherever I am, I want to be of use. At MessageMakers, we help create experiences that transform, with the underlying assumption that the transformation will make the world a better place. So, its part of our corporate DNA and of the team that works at MessageMakers. We usually do that by helping others tell their stories in an emotionally authentic way. We’ve worked- locally- on the television documentary Second Shift and with the people who helped keep GM in Lansing. People who are intelligent, hard working and passionate, are inspirational. It’s always best to surround yourself with good people. Fortunately, we have many in Lansing,” says Terry Terry, President and CEO of MessageMakers. MessageMakers is a founding sponsor of Lansing JazzFest, Michigan BluesFest and the Grand American FishRodeo Festival.
Lansing local business are offering a vast array of service businesses that are crucial to the information age. It’s important for businesses to tell their story in any way they can and MessageMakers isn’t the only company that can be of assistance. Glow Social Media is working hard to spread the "#LoveLansing" love.
“I want to provide companies with the type of social media management they'd get from firms in larger cities, but with the hometown feel we love in the midwest. I want to get to know as many people as I can in Greater Lansing and help everyone had a fun, productive summer,” says Courtney Maki, Co-Founder of Glow Social Media.
Maki, a native to Lansing helped start Glow Social Media to help local businesses develop brand awareness and drive inbound traffic to company websites. But that’s not all they do. Glow also wants to help connect the right individuals to Lansing based companies through digital networking.
“We love to represent Glow on panels and at seminars with topics that help everyone, whether or not they're in marketing or social media. Last year I spoke at the LCC AMA Annual Business Etiquette Dinner. Most of the attendees we're college students, so I focused my presentation on how to use LinkedIn to network and potentially find a job. Glow also offers a LinkedIn consultation service to individuals, to optimize and update their LinkedIn profiles. I want everyone in Lansing to be able to use LinkedIn as a networking and referral source and ideally land interviews that lead to jobs,” says Maki.
Keeping jobs here in Lansing is something that’s seemingly been a heavier task for Lansing, than of other bigger cities. With the recent recession, the talent that came out of colleges and Universities in this area have looked to migrate to Detroit, Chicago and Grand Rapids. But lately, there’s been a shift and the talent is stronger than ever and focused on rebuilding.
“I really appreciate how so many of my peers in Lansing are willing to roll up their sleeves and create the culture they want from places like the NEO Center and Zoobies to the Capital City Film Festival and the dozens of millennial-owned small businesses here. If they want to see something happen, they make it happen,” says Kate Snyder, Principal Strategist at Piper & Gold Public Relations.
Snyder hopes that Small Business Week wont have so much of personal impact, but an impact on the Small Business community as a whole.
“It's not about what it will do for me but more about being willing to share my experiences with other small businesses in hopes they will know about the resources available to them. Entrepreneurship is hard, and you don't have to do it alone. Success is easier with support,” says Snyder.
Aside from the service based companies doing their part to make Lansing a better place to work and live, Preuss Pets, Red Fox Comics and Craig Mitchell Smith are product based companies that love Lansing and work hard to put their flair on the greater Lansing area.
“I am fourth generation Lansing native and plan on spending the rest of my life here. Anything I can do to make Lansing a better place benefits my friends, family, coworkers and the city at large,” says Craig Mitchell Smith a renowned glass artist who creates stunning works of art using kiln formed glass.
Lansing’s local product based businesses strive to re-culture and beautify the Lansing area bringing their unique touch to the more artistic, hand-made realm that exists within the city.
“I have been a tireless supporter of the Lansing community donating time and merchandise to dozens of local charitable programs. I involve the community through teaching my unique glass making methods both locally, nationally and now internationally with the development of a studio in Sri Lanka," says Craig Mitchell Smith.
"I have offered mentorship to many local artists sharing my successes and failures pointing out bridges and avoiding pitfalls. My love and continued involvement in Lansing's theatre community keeps me involved behind the scenes. I use every interview opportunity to highlight Lansing's thriving Old Town district. I have also been chosen by LEAP in both Delhi and Delta Townships to produce public sculptures to integrate art into our fine city,”
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the US each year. American Small Businesses represent the quintessential American Dream. With hard work and ingenuity, any can build a better future for themselves and their families.
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Jared Field is a frequent contributor to Capital Gains.
Photos ©
Dave Trumpie
Dave Trumpie is the managing photographer for Capital Gains. He is a freelance photographer and owner of
Trumpie Photography.
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