Time flies when you’re self-employed, as the weeks turn into years. Is everything the same? Are things different? This month we check in with a quartet of entrepreneurs previously profiled in Business Lexington to see what they’re up to now.
Bill Straus
Bill Straus Photography, www.billstraus.com
The photography industry has changed quite a bit in the past eight years with the proliferation of digital equipment.
“This has created a lot more competition,” Straus said. “I have enjoyed the challenge of being able to provide not just high-quality images for clients but also a high level of professionalism and service. This gives me the opportunity to stand out and give the client the value of using a professional. As Lexington continues to grow it also gives me the opportunity to add new clients in many areas.”
He has found it important to be current with technology.
“I’ve learned that my business needs to keep up with this to be able to provide my clients just what they need, and I’ve learned that I can adapt pretty easily as the changing times require,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed the opportunity expand with the technology and have a broader base of knowledge.”
Terry Foody
Healthy Living, www.terryfoody.com
A registered nurse and certifi ed clinical research coordinator, Terry Foody has seen her solo practice evolve from focusing on individuals and their nutritional needs in fall 2007 to working with the health of organizations and municipalities. Today she is a speaker, consultant and author. In Lexington, Foody has worked on two projects as a research nurse with the city’s Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program. In 2014 she wrote and self-published a book, “The Pie Seller, the Drunk, and the Lady,” based on her research of the 1833 cholera epidemic in Lexington.
“I wanted to get the research out there about what I’ve learned about these people and their lives,” she said. “When you have a big disaster, ordinary people can step up.”
Foody speaks to groups ranging from humanities councils to nursing students.
“One of the things I’ve been telling nurses is about the contributions they can make,” she said, “and that they will have a chance to have leadership in their community and implement strategies. I feel like that’s what I’m trying to do with my own health, my one-on-one clients and the community at large.”
Chris Hall
BlueGrass Go2Girl, www.bluegrassgo2girl.com
In fall 2009, Chris Hall’s business was six months old. She has seen a growing diversity in clients and projects but not as much growth in sales as she would have expected this far down the line. Geography is a factor.
“I don’t think what I do is as mainstream for here,” she said. “If I were doing this in San Francisco where my brother lives I would have a staff of 30. They’re used to outsourcing everything in a bigger city.”
Still, Hall enjoys her business as a freelance personal assistant.
“The people that get it, get it,” she said. “They are so thankful for getting help. I may never be the multimillionaire, 20-franchise person, because I just don’t operate that way. And I think that I’m OK with that now.”
In addition to taking care of clients’ pets, running errands and organizing all manner of logistics, another task she is helping people with these days is moving.
“We have a lot of older residents in the city who are downsizing, so I’ve done a lot of help with packing up and determining what they’re keeping, selling and what the kids are getting, and trying to make that process a lot easier,” she said.
Hall has found referrals to be of utmost importance to her business.
“One of the things I’ve learned about Lexington is this is a very verbal city,” she said.
Christopher Manzo
www.kit-case.com
In January 2013 Christopher Manzo had a company name (Skipping Stone Technologies) and a product (kit-case) in beta testing. He raised $12,200 via a Kickstarter campaign, but because the goal had been set at $40,000 he received nothing. In December 2014 he closed the company, after creating prototypes of his smartphone kit-in-a-case that garnered interest. He took a visiting professor position at Kansas State University in the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, and as of April 2016 has a tenured position.
“I am still doing residential and light commercial architectural projects in Kentucky and Missouri,” he said. “And I look forward to picking up kit-case again this summer, now that I have both a position and the time to dedicate to the project again.”
Manzo intends to use kit-case as a student design project.
“Now that electronic pay is mainstream, the need for kit-case is becoming apparent,” he said. “Leather goods will be the principle competition, as almost everyone in Europe has a leather wallet case for their phone. It is catching on here.”
There was no ideal market a few years ago for Manzo’s idea.
“It was harder to solve the marketing problem than the product problem,” he said. “Getting a great idea in front of your market niche, those who are willing to buy your product — that is the real problem a startup has to solve.”