Kasey Malley and Betsy Enders, female co-business owners of Small Favors, a unique gift shop located in The Village, have grown to know what success looks like. The business started with selling party favors out of Malley’s house, but later the two opened a retail store.
“We honestly never thought we would be in this business,” Malley said. “It just had a way of showing us where it wanted to go and kind of happened organically.”
The two reflect on their favorite part of the store being the people. They love hearing details on why a customer enters their store and what they’re celebrating, but most importantly they share how being a female has impacted their business.
“I think in the business we are in, there are a lot of women business owners,” Enders said. “I think that it’s made it really fun to connect, bond and learn from other women in this business.”
Ashley Mathews, owner of Village Nutrition, a healthy on-the-go drink shop, started as an employee for a similar nutrition club. She immediately fell in love with her job there and wanted to create her own place in the community.
Mathews shares that her customers are family and that her favorite part about owning a business is the relationships and friendships she has gained. She also highlights how being a woman has affected her overall business and the big transition into the unknown.
“I feel that I have really connected with other women in the area,” Mathews said. “Whether it is a collaboration or meeting other young women like myself, it has really helped create partnerships amongst them.”
Anne Murphy, owner of Apple Blossom Baby located in The Village, has grown up in retail. She owned another store with her mother called Young Clothes for many years until an unfortunate construction accident cost them their company. Years later, Murphy opened her own store because she felt something was missing and realized she lost the connection she had with her customers.
As Murphy started her new business, she has been able to see her past customers come back full circle as their kids are having kids. She loves the entire aspect of owning a business and has known how to be successful based on her past experiences. Murphy also shares how being a female and mom has impacted her store.
“As a mom and a female, I don’t think anyone else could do this,” Murphy said. “I know what I am selling and I know what other mothers expect. I have been in this business for around 20 years, so I have always been very hands-on with my customers.”
