Lexington, KY - It seems we’re all as busy as bees (thank you, Geoffrey Chaucer, for that simile). There’s a lot of energy in the business air that many people haven’t experienced for a few years, and we’re exercising the forgotten muscle of juggling projects and clients. Here’s how a handful of central Kentucky businesspeople are dealing with the breakneck pace of business this year.
Jim Bailey, president of Complete Automotive Repair:
We’ve been here 27 years. We have some systems in place and are always trying to critique them and make them better. There’s not really any way of keeping things from falling through the cracks other than following the procedures that have been put in place. I set aside some time every evening to plan the next day; without a system like that, I would be lost. Getting an early start makes a difference. Everybody’s on the same page to treat customers fairly and make them happy. We make a point to call people after three or four days to make sure everything’s OK. If people aren’t happy, they’ll tell people about it and go somewhere else. We don’t have much problem with that — knock on wood.
Anitra Manca Thompson, vice president of marketing at DMD Data Systems:
We anticipated 2012 being very busy from a marketing perspective. Like most small businesses, DMD Data Systems is planning for ways to diversify our client base. This means it’s increasingly important to form an informational and targeted marketing strategy, which is the core of my primary marketing projects, to include refreshing our website (launch anticipated for summer of 2012) and creating better campaigns for small- to mid-market businesses. Though these are big expectations for a marketing department of one person, I am able to hire external resources to help with specific projects, which helps keep me on track. It’s very important for me to feel accountable, so I look to a small group of marketing peers in our industry for support as well. Showing up to one of these meetings without completing a goal is like showing up to school without doing the homework.
Ed Puterbaugh, owner and head cheese maker at Boone Creek Creamery:
I’m a one-man shop. My cheese business is on the verge of booming. The key is building up inventory. I’m having to sit on a capital and physical investment for several months until the product is ready to sell. A gruyere I make today, I can’t sell for 90 to 120 days. I work seven days a week, making cheese five days and attending the farmers market on Saturday and Sunday. I do not have a scheduled day off until November. I wouldn’t say I’m stressed, though. You do what you have to do. I own another business, Biz Cards Today. I’ve had it for 25 years, specializing in four-color printing, business cards and brochures. I have one graphic artist; he can manage most things during the day and allow me to make cheese.
Vince Edwards, president of Pinnacle Success Group: It has been a very busy year. Business is coming from very different and diverse arenas. Besides being very active with clients, I have consulted expanding companies. I have seen more startups popping and a very positive energy in the business community. That positive energy was lacking the last few years. Being busy hasn’t caused much stress, except it is causing me to be more organized and efficient with my work. Not as much free time as before, so I have to maximize each day. Being busy is better than the alternative.
Beth King, owner of Karamel Kreations: We are a handmade caramel business using a family recipe. We began the candy business four years ago as a web store and by doing fundraisers and festivals. It was my dream to one day own a candy/gift shop, so in August 2011 we opened a store in Danville on Main Street. Business at our store has been very good. The store is a whimsical gift shop with a lot of fun gifts, giftware, bright colors and happiness. Because of my store atmosphere, it’s hard to be stressed in here. When things seem to get out of control, I step back and just realize that, as Scarlett once said, “Tomorrow is another day!” I work to stay better organized because the most stressful times are when things are not in order.
Kathie Stamps posts grammar tips at www.facebook.com/GrammarTips.