Darke County, OH News

The Face of Small Business - How I Got Here**
By: Kathryn Gabbard, founder, The Ivy League

My name is Kathryn Gabbard and I am the proprietor and designer of The Ivy League Florist in downtown Greenville. Prior to opening the doors of my brick and mortar shop, I attended school for fine art, graduated from the David Curtis School of Design, and worked several years for a flower shop in Eaton. I am of the fortunate few who truly love my work. I spend my days in my petite studio creating and designing with fresh flowers and often feel more like an artist than an entrepreneur. My shop is an ever changing place and I am fueled by the idea that others may be inspired and moved by experiencing it. I hold fast to the belief that people can be inspired and influenced by an environment and consequently I try to lend a creative edge to each aspect of my business. Thought is given to everything from hand-stamped packaging and thought provoking merchandise displays to the invigorating fragrance that emanates from the shop.

It's a funny thing. The ingredient that has made me successful was the very thing that made me insecure and wavering in the beginning. I can remember signing the lease to my building and looking into my bag of tools and finding no business school diploma. I was squeamish at the thought of only having an art certificate and a flower school diploma. Years later, I realize that what I did have was a fresh set of eyes that looked at, and continue to look at, business in a different way. I make decisions and launch ideas without pre-set parameters from a business text book and instead push myself to use my imagination. I rely on the fact that my shop is a blank canvas and can be anything I'm inspired by.

What excites me now is the increasing amount of like-minded proprietors within Greenville. There is an influx of creative entrepreneurs answering the call of business and doing so with passion and confidence. I sincerely believe that the market is forcing a new way of thinking about business and those with creative and unconventional backgrounds are poised for success. The old ways of one-size-fits-all mass production and cookie-cutter marketing are in the past. Small niche businesses that focus on relationship building, specialty service, memorable products, and creative experiences are on the rise. Having a collection of businesses, within Darke County, that embrace these practices are an exciting and promising sign.

And so the story of The Ivy League continues and leaves its mark on downtown Greenville. Always evolving, we are exploring ideas and paths for growth but only time will tell! In the meantime, we continue the efforts to create those lasting experiences that garner the remark: "I just LOVE that shop!" It can be quite a challenge...but creativity is key.

Visit Katie at the Ivy League Florist at 517 South Broadway, Greenville; Telephone: {937} 548.8759; Web: www.ivyleagueflorist.com; Facebook: "Ivy League Florist"

**The “Face of Small Business” is a continuing monthly focus designed to bring you information about Chamber entrepreneurs and business owners on “How We Got Here”. Assisting entrepreneurs and small businesses and understanding how they operate is critical to growing jobs.

Growing the economy can occur one small business at a time and we are well positioned to grow this part of our economy. With the shifting economy, now is the perfect time to focus on the new, small business high growth emerging economic direction.

Local business ownership matters in important ways. According to a recent study by Penn State, smaller, locally owned businesses provide higher, long-term economic growth. Small businesses and startups provide more than just jobs for community members. They also improve innovation and productivity on a local level and use other businesses in the community such as accounting and wholesalers.

The Darke County Chamber has resources for your business. We are here to help you build a business or optimize results within your current business. Please contact me at sharond@darkecountyohio.com or 937-548-2102 for more information.

Sharon Deschambeau
President