Updates
Written by: Elisa Balabram
As we celebrate Women & Biz one year anniversary, we decided to get an update from the entrepreneurs we interviewed! – Congratulations to all of you, and thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
- Check out how their businesses have grown and changed in this short period of time, I hope you also get inspired by their success.
- Marian Banker – Prime Strategies
- Amy Cole and Lisa Cole – Acquaint New York
- Jackie Gordon – Divalicious, Inc.
- Bridgette Raes – Bridgette Raes Style Group
- Justine Reichman – Career Change Network
 Marian Banker Prime StrategiesLearn more about Marian Banker Prime Strategies Issue V |
Has your business changed since our interview? If yes, how? And why?“I’m focusing even more on local events that will bring together small business leaders in the metropolitan NYC area. In addition to my monthly Brain Exchange Roundtable where we share expertise, experience, ideas and resources, I’m running another Business Goal Roundtable where each member receives coaching and peer support to help achieve their most critical business goal before year end. I’ve learned that small business people gain so much from this type of peer interaction that I want to continue to expand on this format.”Have the goals for your business changed? How? And how do you anticipate achieving the goals you have for your business?“The goals for my business haven’t changed. My goals will be achieved primarily through the help of carefully selected strategic alliances. These alliances support me predominantly in the areas of marketing and technology. I will also continue to utilize my “advisory board” as a consulting group and resource to help me sort through the maze of options and make the right choices.” |
| Has your business changed since our interview? If yes, how? And why? “Our business has maintained its personalized networking on behalf of young professionals but is has now grown in our 3rd year to also aid corporations. After networking with our personal and business circles on behalf of talented women, companies were calling us back requesting other candidates for other job openings. This of course was a compliment and allowed us to service corporations as well. We didn’t intend to move in the direction of recruiters but we were asked and able to fill their voids so that aspect of our business has grown. It has also enhanced our revenue a great deal. We partner with corporations in their searches and should they hire an Acquaint New York gal we charge 20% of the annual salary. It is a bit lower than market rate but we feel we are benefiting both parties and feel blessed to have corporations adding to our revenue streams. “Have the goals for your business changed? How? And how do you anticipate achieving the goals you have for your business?
“Yes, although our mission is still and always will be to personally assist women in NYC and educate them to the ways of this town, we have changed our focus. We are concentrating less on aiding women in their housing searches and rather are educating them more in their professional and career endeavors. We have grown our career consulting services to include: resume writing, cover letters and follow up correspondence, interviewing techniques and strategies to job hunting. |
 Lisa Cole and Amy Cole Acquaint New YorkLearn more about Amy and Lisa ColeAcquaint New York Issue IV |
 Jackie Gordon Divalicious Inc.Learn more about Jackie Gordon Divalicious Inc. Issue IV |
Has your business changed since our interview? If yes, how? And why? “Yes, my business has changed. I had a lot of exposure with my first New York show sayCHEESE! debuted in April 2004. I got a lot of hits on my website and added new people to my mailing list. Now, I am expanding my consulting/events business to include an e-commerce site where I’m launching two new businesses under the Divalicious umbrella: Divalicious Chocolate Fountain Rentals (up now at chocolatefountainnyc.com and divalicious.biz) and RECI-TEES by Divalicious (Available by October 1st through reci-tees.com and divalicious.biz). By diversifying my product range I can gain greater exposure in multiple markets. I am going to be participating in my first business to business trade show in October at the BiZ Bash Event Styles show and a business to consumer Chocolate show in November. I have been hosting a monthly cable TV show in Brooklyn, Neighborhood Beat BoCoCa, that gives me regular TV exposure, increases my networking ability and will hopefully lead to getting a cooking show on Food TV in the near future.” I have been presenting workshops at conferences as a way to build my brand and network nationally. I have been to Baltimore and Minneapolis this year and will be in Dallas and Oxford, England next year.”Have the goals for your business changed? How? And how do you anticipate achieving the goals you have for your business? “My business goals have not changed. Gain Exposure! I am managing to stay on the track of exposing and building my brand and taking advantages of opportunities that come up. I am on my way to building a base income for my business so my consultative services will be able to thrive and I will be able to attract investors and sponsors for my “eatertainment” shows. I am lucky to have a marketing and sales consultant helping me launch my products. I think it’s important to find people who have complimentary skills. It’s all good!” |
| Has your business changed since our interview? If yes, how? And why? “Since December 2003 Bridgette Raes Style Group business has really boomed. Bridgette Raes Style Group celebrates its two-year anniversary in September and sometimes I am still shocked at all I have accomplished with this business. Our private client base has exploded, our newsletter subscriber base has more than quadrupled, I have contributed frequently to many publications including Woman’s World Magazine as an image and style expert and the company’s exposure has increased. Believe it or not I think the majority of the company’s growth came from saying no and setting boundaries. When I first started the business I said yes to every networking opportunity, business relationship and exposure opportunity that came my way sort of with a desperate mental attitude that if I didn’t expose the company just about everywhere I could I wouldn’t be successful. As a result I found myself attracting the wrong clients and wasting a lot of time spinning my wheels. It only took a few disappointing experiences to help me realize quickly that the service I provided was a luxury service and not suitable for everyone. I think that if I can offer any advice it would be to be very clear on exactly who and what types of opportunities you are trying to attract to grow your business and trust that when you make decisions from that standpoint it will pay off. Desperation is the world’s worst perfume; it doesn’t attract anyone or anything! ” Have the goals for your business changed? How? And how do you anticipate achieving the goals you have for your business?
“The goals of the business have pretty much stayed the same only now I am focused more efforts on utilizing my talents in the media. I am in the process of a book deal, and have some possible talk show spots coming up for the fall. I think I will always want to work with a private client base however I would like to balance it with some media work, hire on some other consultants to manage the overflow of clients that I am unable to work with and finally hire a much needed assistant!” |
 Bridgette Raes Bridgette Raes Style GroupLearn more about Bridgette Raes Bridgette Raes Style Group Issue III |
