A Charlotte tea company owner inspired a new affordable branding program, helping small businesses succeed without spending big on marketing.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte small business has found a way to help other small businesses, creating a win-win for all.
The number of small businesses has grown every year for the last decade. But, according to the Chamber of Commerce, 50% of small businesses fail after five years.
Now, there are new tools to help Charlotte area companies make it.
Monique Hibma has been a stay-at-home mom for the last 10 years. Before that, she was a teacher, and now, she’s a new business owner.
“Neek Tea Company was born because I wanted to create a business that allowed me to be present with my family, do something that I loved and tea was that thing,” Hibma said.
Hibma said her previous work life no longer appealed to her, but she wasn’t sure what else she could do.
“How does that skillset translate into the workforce? I’ve lost out on years of employment, whereas I can start my own business, create the hours, the expertise and build a business around it,” she said. “That was the best move I could do for myself.”
But she realized she didn’t know much about building a brand and telling people about it, so she reached out to Cara Hollinger—the owner of Made Outside—a Charlotte-based branding and marketing company.
“Small businesses are accelerating,” Hollinger said. “A lot of people are bouncing out of areas that don’t serve them anymore, corporate jobs or unfulfilling jobs, or maybe they’ve had an idea they’ve had for a while. With the world today, everyone wants to come out and build that vision.”
But Hollinger said they don’t always know how, and they can’t always afford the help. That’s why she said Hibma and her business inspired a new concept.
“Brand Camp came from people wanting services; they felt intimidated by doing all of it so we empower people to do what they can themselves at the same time hire professionals to do the things they can’t,” Hollinger said.
Hollinger believes this is the way of the future for small businesses in all industries.
“Traditionally we would have done it all and this is a good inspiration of how not to do that and I’m a small business too so it inspired me to offer this to other businesses,” she said.
Michelle Boudin: Contact Michelle Boudin at mboudin@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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