By Erin Daniels, The KNOW Women
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, according to Forbes, 2.2 million women left the workforce. This drastic change was due to the combination of many variables; business closures, increased need for at-home child-care, reduction in demand for certain goods and services, along with many others. The pandemic also laid off many from their jobs leaving them searching for new streams of income. At the beginning of 2021, the number of applications for new businesses in the United States went up 73% from the previous year, many of which are women-owned.
Despite the setback, many of these businesses have exploded and grown immensely. They have scaled with intention, persistence, and connection. This is true for Sunshine Foss, co-founder of Happy Cork, a wine and spirits store that opened in Brooklyn, NY right before the pandemic. Since opening, Foss has grown her business to have a successful e-commerce website along with her physical store all while supporting many other women and minority-owned businesses. She has been featured in the New York Times, BBC World News, and many others. In order to grow, she adjusted to the pandemic demands by hosting virtual wine tastings. This adjustment led growth and allowed to her feature celebrities such as John Legend and Mary J. Blige on some of her episodes. As many of our KNOW women mention below, she saw a need and created a solution resulting in major growth in her business.
In order to scale successfully, you need to evaluate your current offerings and the needs of your customers. How can your business become the answer to a problem?
At KNOW, we understand the importance of knowing when and how to scale your business! We asked our dynamic KNOW their advice on knowing when to scale, what tools to use, and what personally led them to grow their own businesses. Follow along to start scaling smart!
What is one piece of advice you can give to someone who is looking to grow?
DO NOT GET STUCK AT START! Often we feel we have to start only after we have everything ready. Don’t get stuck, make a plan and take the leap. Make baby steps to further the plan, but do not wait until you are perfect to start. Take the leap and don’t get stuck at the starting line.
– Krystal Keck, The KORE Team
The best piece of advice is one that was actually given to me. Write everything down. This has allowed me to pass on tasks to others at my company and I can ensure that they are scaling and growing in the way I would. The best part? I don’t have to do it all because they now have a guide.
-Caroline Tanis, Tanis Financial Group
 Never stop seeking solutions, even in good times. You need to stay ahead of your competition and become the problem solver for your clients. Have your clients focus on their business and we focus on their needs and take the stress off their shoulders. Needless to say, our clients never experienced a toilet paper shortage. That’s the difference when you deal locally versus a big corporation. When they are out, they are out and don’t care past the “out of stock” stamp placed on top of the product. When we are out, we find another resource to keep your businesses going.
-Gina Sisbarro, Marco Office Supply
Find the right people who understand who you are, how you are wired, and will encourage you to work with your gifts and strengths to succeed.
-Amy Harris, Amy’s Style Zone, LLC
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Starting a business is tough, but scaling it can be tougher. Stay driven on the purpose and the reminders that you are building something bigger than yourself that is going to make a difference. Secondly, ask for help as often as you can.
–Megan Coghlan, Backcourt Marketing
