40 minute read
Shop ND is Supporting One Small Business at a Time
Shop ND
Greg Syrup, CARES Program Director Photo provided by Greg Syrup
Did You Know? 14 businesses (and counting) in the Bismarck and Mandan area alone are enrolled in the Shop ND program!
By Grant Ayers
Shop ND (shopnd.com) is an online marketplace that spotlights the North Dakota business community with no cost of enrollment to the retailer. The program was launched with the mission of connecting local small business owners to shoppers across the state. The platform aims to encourage and promote efficient online shopping from local business owners across North Dakota. I sat down with Greg Syrup, CARES (Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security) Program Director, to discuss how he and his direct reports pushed life into Shop ND, its biggest challenges to date, the future of the program and more.
s the COVID-19 pandemic worsened and heavily impacted the business community, the CARES Act was launched. The CARES Act is a $2.2 trillion stimulus package that was launched by the US government in March of 2020. When North Dakota received roughly $1 million to spend over the following two to three years, a variety of programs were created with those funds to support local businesses.
Of those programs, the Shop ND program was one of the first to officially launch and find success across the state. The money to build and back the program, market for the program and the force behind the launch of the Shop ND campaign were all there. However, creating a website proved to be a bit more difficult than Syrup first imagined. To provide the most efficient online shopping experience for both retailers and customers, they reached across a few state lines for an extra hand.
“We partnered with Member Marketplace, an organization based out of Iowa that creates websites for several different communities. In the past, they’ve created websites similar to Shop ND in different states including Ohio, Wyoming, urban Nevada, rural Nevada and so on,” Syrup said.
The primary goal behind Shop ND is to provide access to small businesses’ products through an online marketplace, no matter the struggles that communities face, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A lot of small business owners felt like they were sitting in the middle of a lake without any way to move during the pandemic. We saw this and wanted to create a very easyto-use, turnkey, complementary service for businesses to be able to continue making sales in their community,” Syrup said.
“This program really helps out business owners if they faced certain restrictions at the height of the pandemic, as well as those that don’t have a brick-and-mortar location. Plus, many of these people can now showcase and ship their product(s) much further than before, as people from across the state are discovering products that they wouldn’t have.”
Furthermore, the CARES group works with several programs that are dedicated to the care of the client, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). Not only are they looking to advertise and support local businesses’ products, they can refer you to the proper organizations to assist you with other questions or concerns.
As with any online marketplace, there are certain restrictions in place regarding the sale of independent products. “We comply with certain regulations on what can and cannot be sold online that sellers should be aware of. There are regulated industries such as alcohol and tobacco. There are cottage food laws in North Dakota that place restrictions on homemade food products sold in large amounts. But if they have any questions about their product, however, we can answer them in a heartbeat,” Syrup said.
With “thousands of dollars in sales being made through the platform so far,” according to Syrup, the ever-growing Shop ND program is described by Syrup as a “very broad, openended” way to connect retailer and customer, even in the toughest of times. Despite the challenges that the business community may face over the coming years, the future looks hopeful as Shop ND and those behind the program aim to assist North Dakota business owners in any way possible.
Today, there are over 520 businesses enrolled in the costfree Shop ND program across North Dakota, with that number expected to increase as the program finds more recognition. An online marketplace that is hyperfocused on selling the products & services of local businesses, helping customers easily shop local online.
Online sales exposure to locally-minded consumers
Allow customers to choose local pickup, delivery, or shipping
Benefit from 'marketplace effect' with shared promotion from multiple local businesses & partners
Sync Shopify web stores to allow products to import and sync inventory.
(other integrations coming soon) (includes up to 50 items listed in your shop)
*No fees paid for listing products or selling products. Merchant processing fees apply (2.9% + $30 per order)
Online training and resources to help you manage and market your shop. Diversity of sales channels to increase overall sales
Selling support from a live team assisting with your shop, products, and orders
Sell products, services, events, virtual or customizable products through the site
Sell online without listing or commission fees.
Looking to Shop Local!
Some businesses enrolled in Shop ND have yet to make a sale through the website. Support your local business owners and purchase through the platform!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost to participate?
• There is no cost for sellers to join Shop North Dakota!
• Shop North Dakota is an initiative of the North Dakota SBDC enabling small businesses throughout North Dakota to sell on the platform.
Can you tell me more about listing products?
• Sellers can list products individually or connect their existing Shopify store to sync their products and inventory into the platform.
• You must list a minimum of one product and up to 50 products for free! Email info@shopnd.com if you're interested in listing more than 50 products.
How long will it take to get set up on the site?
• It only takes a few minutes to register your business. Once your account is approved, you can have all of your shop settings and your first few products added in under an hour. • If you already have products listed online elsewhere, we may even be able to assist you with a product import to get your shop started.
I've never sold online before. Can someone help me?
• Yes. There are ongoing trainings, how-to videos and a knowledge base with resources to guide you, but there's also a live team ready to assist you with whatever questions you have. Reach out to us at any time and we'll be happy to work with you.
I already have a website, why should I sell on this platform?
• This platform is catered to an audience that is interested in buying local, and they're specifically coming to the website to browse and buy from North Dakota businesses.
• Buying on a marketplace website is incredibly convenient for customers. They can visit one website and buy multiple products from several different vendors with one checkout.
• Selling in multiple channels (i.e. your website, in-store, a marketplace
website, etc.) increases your chances for more overall sales.
• Marketplace visitors can buy your products without knowing of your business first, something that is often harder to convert on individual websites.
How do I get notified of orders?
• You will get an email notification to the registered email address on your account.
• You may also sign up for text alerts in your account.
How do I handle shipping?
• Sellers handle all fulfillment and shipping requirements and can charge shipping to customers.
• Sellers can set free shipping for all products or just for specific products.
• Sellers can set their own shipping rates on their overall store or on a per-product basis.
• Sellers enter shipping, carrier and tracking information that is then communicated to the customer.
How and when do I get paid for orders?
• Stripe is the preferred payment processor. Orders are paid out to your bank from Stripe typically within two business days. Payment processing through Stripe is 2.9% + $.30 per order.
• Alternatively, businesses could choose PayPal payments if they prefer. There will be an additional $.25 processing fee for PayPal (2.9% + $.55 total), and payments will be dispersed once the order has been shipped to the customer.
How often do I have to update my shop?
• Products should be updated as needed, or at least every few weeks. Shops should be updated to make inventory changes, add a new product or two and delete old products.
Get in touch with Shop ND
Web: shopnd.com Email: info@shopnd.com Phone: (701) 777-3700 Facebook: @shopnorthdakota Instagram: @shopnorthdakota
CCassandra Mosbrucker, Owner and Founder of Ginger Leaf Garden LLC, is currently serving in the North Dakota Army National Guard and has served for the last 12 years. Due to her service she brings a unique perspective to the business world.
Tell me a bit about Ginger Leaf Garden. What inspired you?
I grew up in Mandan city limits without any farm or agriculture experience. My childhood home had a small backyard garden and a large wrap-around flower bed in front of the house. Year after year, I looked forward to planting flowers with my mom. I always looked forward to going around town to scope out different flowers at the greenhouses. I still get just as excited about stepping into a greenhouse now as I did when I was a kid.
Growing up, I also spent quite a bit of time in my grandparents’ garden. Their garden was significantly bigger than my home one. They were always open to me planting different things. I remember saving seeds from fruit and vegetables and experimenting to see if I could make something grow. I specifically remember saving cherry seeds. These started planted in a cup, then a flowerpot and eventually, after a couple of years, they were big enough for the garden. Our family no longer owns this property so I can’t be sure, but as far as I know, those trees are still growing. All these little moments in the garden just stuck with me. Since I have lived on my own, I have always had my own garden whether it was just flowers on the apartment balcony or a few raised garden beds in the backyard. In 2018, I built a house in Mandan (Lakewood area). That year, I didn’t get a garden since the house was under construction. In 2019, I spent half the garden season deployed, meaning that was on pause for another year. Finally, in 2020, I added six raised garden beds to my backyard. Then in 2021, I added six more. This year, I turned the garden into a business and added another 13 along with a watering system! As of right now, my family is always joking that I may as well turn the whole backyard into a garden. Honestly, I would love that.
Right now, the business is operated out of my backyard garden. The focus is to sell starter plants in the spring, produce a variety of different canned items such as jams, sauces, salsas and pickles, and share my experience with others. We have also been experimenting with different gift basket sets this year. Our garden-themed easter baskets were a huge hit!
Right now, I still have another full-time career, but in the next few years, I would like to transition into running Ginger Leaf Garden as my full-time business. My garden is my happy place, and I never can get enough. I want to move toward the job that I love wholeheartedly.
What does a normal day on the job look like for you?
It depends on the day. I will either be in the garden, kitchen or at the farmer’s market. While my full-time job has my attention Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and one weekend a month, all of my expendable time is spent on Ginger Leaf Garden. With this being the business's first official year, sleep has been very limited. I’m often working late into the night on different projects. This spring, I spent a lot of time starting seeds indoors, building raised garden beds, installing a water system and planting the garden. Over the summer, I spent most of the daylight hours caring for the garden. The nights away from the garden were spent in the kitchen canning. Over the summer and fall, Ginger Leaf Garden participated in the Lincoln Days Farmer’s Market on Tuesday nights. Not only is it an opportunity to sell my goods, but it’s also great to connect with other vendors in the Bis-Man community.
What were your friends’ and family's reactions when you told them you were pursuing service, and what was their reaction when you told them about your business?
I think a lot of people were very surprised when I decided to join the National Guard. I was a quiet, small, softhearted female. This isn’t exactly what people picture when they think of a “soldier.” I had never even shot a real gun until I went to basic training. These skeptical opinions just made me more determined to prove myself.
As for starting my business, my friends and family were excited for me. They’re happy to see me doing something that I love and they’re even happier when I bring them new recipes to taste test!
I remember operating on mental and physical exhaustion but somehow still enjoying every bit of the experience. I was actually sad when basic training was over. There is something special about the way you bond with your battle buddies through these experiences. Some of these bonds turn into lifelong friendships.
What do you remember about your first days when launching your business?
With the business, I was also operating on mental and physical exhaustion but somehow enjoying every bit of the experience. Also, I remember constant excitement and a sense of accomplishment as little pieces fell together. I think I am still a bit in shock that I own my own business and am solely responsible for it!
We also love taking special requests for canning. It gives us a more personal connection with our customers as well as a new challenge!" - Cassandra Mosbrucker
What made you want to choose the Bismarck-Mandan area to start Ginger Leaf Garden?
Along with growing up here, I think that we have a certain sense of pride in our North Dakota growers and producers.
What was the hardest challenge for you when opening Ginger Leaf Garden?
The hardest challenge was navigating through all of the paperwork to make sure everything is licensed properly, and taxes are being done properly. Luckily, there are many helpful resources out there that business owners can use to their advantage. I received assistance from the ND Women’s Business Center, as well as the Veterans Business Outreach Center.
Who are your biggest mentors that you can attribute some of your successes to?
My biggest mentor would be my father. He’s a problem solver and just seems to know how to do everything. This has come in handy more times than I can count. He has never doubted any of my ideas and always shows up when I need him. He has always taught me to do things the right way and if something doesn’t work, try again. I don’t know what I would do without him.
Have you or your business achieved any awards, accolades or accomplishments in your first year of business?
This year, we decided to enter our Peach Heat Salsa in the Lincoln Farmer’s Market Days and TR 4 Heart and Soul Salsa Showdown. There were 13 different entries and we took third place.
We also received a new vendor grant from the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association. The grant is available for new farmers market vendors participating in their first or second year of farmer's markets. Our grant funds were used for supplies, equipment and marketing material related to vending at a farmers market.
Gift Baskets Galore
Ginger Leaf Garden makes gift baskets for various holidays and events. To date in 2022, baskets have been made for Easter, Mother’s Day, Father's Day, May Day, Administrative Professionals’ Day, Teacher’s Day and birthdays. Watch out for their upcoming holiday baskets!
Support Ginger Leaf Garden
What does being a veteran symbolize to you?
To me, it’s just my job. I choose to do it and I get paid to do it. It also comes with great benefits. I have been able to travel all over the country and the world. I was deployed to Africa for six months and that was a part of the world I may never have gotten to see otherwise if it weren’t for that experience. How has your service experience changed your business mindset?
It taught me resiliency, as well as that it’s okay to fail sometimes. If you fail, you still learn something. Resiliency is so important when starting a business because you are learning something every day.
(701) 214-7695
@ginger.leaf.garden
@ginger.leaf.garden
Some of Mosbrucker’s hard work behind the scenes before the final product is created!
gingerleafgarden@gmail.com
Does the dream of opening your own business sound like an amazing idea to you?
By Wendy Klug, Program Manager, and Julie Hinker, Veterans Business Specialist, Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)
About the VBOC
The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and resource partner referrals to transitioning service members, veterans, National Guard and Reserve members and military spouses interested in starting or growing a small business. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has 22 organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as VBOCs.
A
re you tired of your annoying boss and ready to be your own boss? If so, you should start your own business! If taking a vacation whenever you want sounds like a good idea, you should start a business! Would you like to go to work and love what you do every day? Then, you should start your own business! It’s that easy, right? NO, it’s not. Before you decide that business ownership is right for you, take a deep look into the advantages and disadvantages of business ownership.
You must be ready to commit a lot of time and energy to getting the job done if you want your business to survive. You must wear at least 100 hats daily while you run the world’s longest marathon. Let’s have a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of starting your own business. I am not going to sugarcoat this for you; I want you to get a true picture of what owning a business includes. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of business ownership so you can start to feel if it’s the right career path for you!
Wendy Klug, Program Manager
I want to let you know that I am not just sitting here talking about information that I have learned from reading textbooks. I, myself, have always been an entrepreneur. Ever since I was a little girl, I have had an entrepreneurial spirit. I was always one to do special projects or create something to turn an extra buck!
By age 15, I already owned and operated a craft business as a side gig. This love for selling my art turned into much more after graduating from college with a degree in photography. I soon opened my own small photography business. I successfully ran my own photography business for over 15 years. Today, I no longer have a photography business. It isn’t because I didn’t have clients or I no longer like taking photos, but because I was ready to have my family time back on weekends. You could say the disadvantages were outweighing the advantages.
There are many reasons people start their own businesses. Some of these may be personal, but entrepreneurs seem to have a few ideas and characteristics in common. Here are some of those commonalities comparing advantages to disadvantages.
Advantages:
1. The Sound of Freedom: As a small business owner, you are in control! How much effort you put into the business is what you are going to get back. You get to make your own decisions on what you want to pay yourself, what hours you want to work and what work you want to complete. You get to be your own boss. This is the sound of freedom to many people!
2. Make the World a Better Place: One of the reasons
one may start a business is because they can’t find the service or product they need. An entrepreneur will see this gap in the marketplace as an opportunity and will capitalize on it by creating a business to solve the problem they have identified. The long hours that go into running a business are easier to bear when at the end of it all, you realize you have been the catalyst for something new and made a difference in someone’s life. It can be very rewarding.
Photos Courtesy of VBOC of the Da kotas
3. Healthy Work-Life Balance: When you are the boss,
you get to take a vacation whenever you want. If you want a long weekend, you can deem yourself time off. But you must remember that this isn’t going to happen right away when starting a business. Most businesses need to operate during normal business hours which are typically 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. With that being said, as long as you are transparent with your customers, they will understand and respect the hours your business chooses to operate under, giving you the freedom you want. Once you are more established and the business is up and running smoothly, you will see the work-life balance even out.
4. Do What You Love: For some people, it’s a way of life to do what they love. Do you have a passion or skill that you want to turn into a small business? Owning a small business will give you the ability to be successful and follow your dream. Maybe you’re the type of person that isn’t satisfied working for someone else and you would prefer to be your own boss. If you feel this way then you need to follow that dream of doing what you love, instead of feeling like you are just working to make a living. It will give you a certain satisfaction that no one else could ever put a dollar amount on.
5. A Lifestyle that Fits Your Style: Working the classic
8-5 job may not be your style of work and you may feel unhappy doing so. By owning a small business, you can do what you love and feel like you are making an impact on something you care deeply about. You are also able to adapt your business around the lifestyle you want to have. This is a great positive for many new small business owners as they see a big opportunity in remote work and the ability to travel while still getting their work done.
6. Reaping the Financial Benefits: When you are a
small business owner, the generated revenue goes into your business bank account. You benefit from your own hard work. The more you put into your business, the more financial return you will see from your work. You are turning your skills, interests and passion into your own income instead of somebody else’s income.
Disadvantages:
1. Time Commitment: As a new small business owner, you are going to have to put in a lot of time. There is going to be a lot on your plate with very little time in a day. You will wish there were 50 hours in a day so you could get more done. It takes a lot of time, patience and perseverance to start and run a successful small business. As a small business owner, you will likely work more than 40 hours a week. You have the freedom to take time off, but in reality, you may not be able to get away at the beginning of this journey. That trip to Hawaii just might have to wait!
2. Into the Unknown: You can complete as much research as you want before you start your business, but you still will not know if your business is going to survive. There are some variables you can control, and other variables you cannot. When someone opens their doors, there is no guarantee that they will survive. It takes a lot of work to get a business started, but it also takes just as much work to continue growing that business. Markets change and so do people’s interests. As a small business owner, don’t find yourself in a world where you just continue to do what you started off doing. You need to constantly research what customers are looking for, who your competitors are and what is trending online. If you don’t keep hustling after you open your doors, your business will be at risk.
3. Investing Your Money: Everyone is looking for this thing called free money. In all honesty, grants are few, far and in between for business startups. While there are options available, you will still need to rely on having your own skin in the game to get started. You will need to have a well-written business plan, good credit history and working capital to secure a small business loan. (Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to securing financing, but we do have a team of SBA experts that can assist you along this journey.)
4. Stress: As a business owner, you are the business. You personally feel responsible for the company’s success or failure. Aside from that, there’s an overwhelming array of other things to worry about too including competition, employees, bills, equipment breakdowns, customer problems, etc. Keep in mind that just because you are the boss, it doesn’t mean the decisions will always be easy!
With every advantage, there will always be a disadvantage. When I first opened my photography business, I loved everything about it! The fact that I was away from my family on every nice summer day didn’t even phase me. You could say I was in my zone! I loved getting to capture moments of life for my clients so they could remember those special events for years down the road.
As I continued my photography business for 15 years, a lot changed. The service gap in hiring a professional photographer to capture photos, people no longer wanting to develop photos to put on their walls and even the competition for photographers were just some of the reasons my business slowed down. The need for professional photographers changed immensely throughout my career. Not only that, but I was unhappy missing my own family events to take photos. I no longer had the drive to continue my journey, therefore, I closed my business.
When looking to start a business, there are many things to consider. While weighing the advantages against the disadvantages, you will find that this is just the beginning. Starting a business is a lot of work and requires a team to get the job done. Do know that there are resources, a team of cheerleaders and a community there ready to support your future venture.
Today, I am grateful to spend my time teaching others how to start, grow or sell their business. I am honored to train and advise veterans, military spouses and active military members throughout the Dakotas. I have been able to use my experiences as an entrepreneur to help others achieve their goals. My cup is full! I am very happy working for the Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Dakotas. I get to serve those that have served our country.
Are you tired of that boss and ready to start your own business? Let’s get you started by weighing the advantages versus the disadvantages. Let us help you do some market research to see if your business idea is a needed service or product. If you are ready to get started, contact the VBOC of the Dakotas team at dakotas.vboc@und.edu. We offer nocost client advising. Register for advising at:
sba-vboc.ecenterdirect.com/signup
Women You Should Know: Brooke Leno
Empowered by Ladyboss Lifestyle Photos Courtesy of Layne Pfliiger Haag
Q. Tell me a little about yourself.
A. I’m originally from Dickinson. I went to school in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota for retail. I kind of knew from a young age that this is what I wanted to do. I always wanted my own store. When I graduated, the oil boom was happening in Dickinson, and it was a great time to go for it. I had a mentor of mine tell me, since I was scared to open a store out of college, “What’s the worst that could happen? Just do it.” In that time, I got married. My husband is also from Dickinson, and we moved together to Bismarck about five years ago and opened the Bismarck store.
Q. You started your business right out of college! That is incredible. It must have been really scary.
A. It was! It was nerve-wracking, but I had a lot of support and mentors who were encouraging me to do it.
Q. We hear a lot from women that the first step in starting their business or getting their career off the ground is just having support and encouragement from other women. Why was it important for you to have that mentorship early on?
A. It’s one of those things where you just attract like-minded people. I’ve always been really driven and motivated, but I have been fortunate to be surrounded by similar people. I worked at a store called Evereve during college and the owners were always huge supporters of me and are to this day. I reach out to them with business questions. It was cool to work for a company that so closely supported and believed in their employees. I also did a mentorship program with a buyer from Macy’s while I was in school and she was always helpful. She is someone I feel I can always lean on. Funny enough, the photographer from our wedding was heavily involved in the retail world before she got into photography and she has been a great resource. She was the one who said, “What are you waiting for?” There have been these great influential people in my life. My family has also always been supportive. My parents are always in my corner and my husband too. It’s not luck, you really attract like-minded people.
Q. Now that you’ve been in business for 11 years, what would you say to that 22-year-old version of yourself just starting out, or someone just graduating who is ready to hit the ground running?
A. I think that you have to know how much work you’re getting yourself into and be willing to put in the work. If you’re willing to put in the work and create something and do it well, those people that have helped you along the way are more than willing to keep helping if they see you’re driven and work hard. Reaching out to those people who’ve been there for you in the past is a great way to keep those relationships going. When you have questions, they’ll be there rooting for you. I have leaned on the people who have been supportive of me. I’ve even reached out to those Evereve owners for help on negotiating recently. It’s been 15 years since I worked there. So, it’s about working hard and keeping connections.
Q. There are so many things you aren’t taught in college, and as a young business owner and especially as a woman, so much is gatekept. What are some of those things you had to learn by trial and error that you wish you’d known earlier on?
A. For me, the biggest thing was leadership. Coming right out of school, I had never led a team or been anyone’s boss. I worked in retail and understood that, but the leadership side of running a business was new to me. After 11 years of doing this, I just feel like I have a handle on this. It took a long time to figure out what kind of leader I wanted to be, and how to effectively lead a team.
Q. And that’s something you can’t learn on paper.
A. You really have to learn as you go. Now I’ve been through most situations and navigated them.
Q. I’m sure owning a clothing store in a pandemic has been one of those challenging situations.
A. It’s all about the people who are on the journey with you. As you grow, you learn that you can’t do it all yourself, and need a good team to make that happen. Keeping those people and keeping them satisfied is something that has been really important to me, so even just in the last year I’ve worked with a business coach to work on the leadership side of things. We’ve nailed down core values and those things you don’t consider when you’re more of a small business.
Q. We’ve been talking a lot about balancing parenting and having a career, and especially these last few years, child care and caring for the home on top of work has been difficult for a lot of women. I’m wondering what those challenges have been like for you and how you’ve kept things going?
A. It’s very difficult! I have a 5-month-old and a 4-year-old. The first one I felt I could handle, but having two has rocked my world. Part of it is having a supportive husband. I wouldn’t be able to work the way I do if I didn’t have a partner who is equally involved with our kids. I have also realized that giving up some of our profits to hire more team members and to get help is what I’ve had to do to make things work. It’s something where I’d rather give more to have the help I need. On the more personal side, we need help too. We have a cleaning lady, and so we’re spending money for help because we need it.
Q. I think that’s something that doesn’t get spoken about often, you know, the help you need to keep things going. There’s such pressure on women to do it all and do it all well and without help.
A. Everyone talks about work-life balance, but it’s truly important to me. I’m not willing to let my kids grow up without spending time with me. I want to be there at night and on the weekends, and it wasn’t always like that. Now I have managers who can be there on the weekends, and I’ve worked hard to be at a point where I don’t have to be there all the time. That takes having good people around you and a good team who can really help you.
Support Out of Town
Phone: (701) 751-2506 Web: outoftownclothing.com Email: info@outoftownclothing.com Facebook: @ShopOutOfTown Instagram: @ShopOutOfTown Address: 628 Kirkwood Mall, Bismarck, ND 58504
Did You Know?
Gusaas first got his start in the billboard advertising industry by offering portable, neon signs that could be placed virtually anywhere in town.
Every business starts as an idea. These ideas come to life with the efforts made by entrepreneurs willing to take risks and grow their ideas into fully-formed business ventures. From startup innovators to salon founders, every person has a unique passion that they merged with the business landscape. While we couldn't talk to every inspiring entrepreneur in the Bis-Man area, we talked to some of the many to hear about their unique journeys.
Did You Know?
The vision of Gusaas Signs all started at a lunch meeting during a work conference. Another gentleman and Gusaas were new to their jobs and discussed business ideas. “He started telling me how he wanted to put a billboard on I-25 near Denver, and that's where it all started.” - Joe Gusaas
The Latest Update!
Gusaas Signs newest location at 605 E Main St in Mandan is currently complete and accepting new advertising contracts.
Owner of Gusaas Signs
Joe Gusaas, Owner of Gusaas Signs, has been operating in the outdoor advertising business for over a decade. Gusaas Signs is an outdoor advertising company that specializes in both static and digital billboards in the Bismarck-Mandan area. Here, Gusaas discusses his journey to the large billboards he has today, the hardest steps, as well as what he’s learned along the way.
What was your journey like for you to get to the position you're at today?
We started Saas Signs, a portable billboard company, in 2011. I wanted to get into the industry with bigger billboards, but couldn't afford it at the time. We started with one small, homemade portable sign. Soon after, that number grew to two, then we had seven portable signs rented out after the first year. In 2015, we decided to make the leap to larger billboards and sold the Saas Signs company. We then started Gusaas Signs and put up our first static Billboard on Main Street in Bismarck.
During the construction of our first billboard, the City of Bismarck was going through some sign code changes, which forced us to re-evaluate our business plan. After doing so, we continued to lease out the existing space. In 2021, we put up our first digital billboard, also on Main Street in Bismarck. With that project completely operational, we’re proud to announce that Gusaas Signs is launching our newest location at the end of the year. This new location will be another digital billboard located on Main Street in Mandan. We are hopeful this location will prove to be successful and that we will be able to offer more locations in the future.
Which parts of taking this risk will stick with you forever?
The most memorable moment was my very first phone call for the business. We had our business name and phone number on a small plate fixed to our first portable sign. Not long after setting it out near Advantage Appliance, we got a phone call and the person wanted to rent two signs. At that moment I only had one. After that call, however, I got to work welding two more in my garage for customers.
What steps were the hardest when taking the leap to start Gusaas Signs?
The hardest part at the beginning was the overhead cost and the unknown possibilities. I was wanting to enter a space that had been dominated by large companies for years and was told by countless people that I simply could not do what I wanted to do. That was the main reason for starting the portable sign company first before taking the leap into the much larger permanent billboards.
What was a typical day in your life like when you were beginning Gusaas Signs?
My wife Michelle and I were young, just married and looking to start a family. As you can imagine, we were both working fulltime to make ends meet. With this business forming, I was working nights and weekends to make it successful. It got to be very busy and stressful at times, but we made it through together.
What would you have done differently if you could go back and start again, knowing what you know now?
If I could've predicted everything that was going to happen back when I was starting, I would have jumped right into the larger billboards right away. After all, that was my dream all along.
What advice do you have for readers considering taking this leap?
No matter the business you’re running, make sure you do your research, know exactly what you want to accomplish, as well as how you're going to accomplish it. When you couple that with hard work and persistence, you’re bound to succeed. Taking risks is never easy and can be very stressful sometimes. Being knowledgeable and never giving up is what has proven to be the difference for us.
The latest billboard structure located at 605 E Main St in Mandan
Photos Submitted by Gusaas Signs
What do most people not know about Gusaas Signs?
We’re still a smaller company and still growing every day, so some people might not even know about us! Every day, we try to spread the word as far as possible about Gusaas Signs and what we’re doing around the community. We’re a truly local company as we’re locally owned and operated. I was even born and raised right here in Bismarck!
What is a day in your life like for you now?
I’m just as busy today as I was when we began, as I’m still working full-time and continually trying to expand and operate Gusaas Signs. While we’re excited to be expanding into Mandan this fall, we’re also looking to expand in the near future to other areas within and around the community.
What’s one thing the local business community could do to help Gusaas Signs?
The response we have gotten from our peers in the local community has been great! Getting our name out into the Bismarck-Mandan area and to the public through word of mouth is huge for us.
(701) 391-7591
ndbillboards@hotmail.com
gusaassigns.com
@gusaassigns
Did You Know?
Voegele has the distinct honor of winning the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018!
Stacy Leigh Voegele, Owner of The Critter Sitter, has been operating her in-home pet care service business for 10 years, offering a variety of services including in-home pet and house sitting, dog walking and much more. Voegele discussed her journey with us, finding true happiness in her job and a typical day in her unique career!
Did You Know?
A large portion of Voegele’s job consists of pet visits, where she goes to the owner’s house, checks in on and takes care of the animal(s).
Did You Know?
Pet visits usually last 20 minutes in length and take care of all of your pet's needs!
Owner of The Critter Sitter
What was your journey like for you to get to the position you're in today?
It has been tumultuous. Self-employment seems glorious to outsiders. It’s very hard to get past the business side of things and weave your way back to doing what you came to do. Not many self-employed business owners survive the business landscape after three years for this reason. There are many behind-the-scenes struggles, including long hours, costs and administrative things. For me, it has been particularly hard on my family to buy larger items such as homes and cars. Taxes and insurances were, and still are, astronomical, then throwing COVID-19 into it just as we became the biggest we'd ever been didn’t help. Thankfully, I have a commercial cleaning business that helped me sustain a flow of income along with the PPP loans to get us by until we recovered.
Which parts of taking this risk will stick with you forever?
I remember my friend telling me that I was nuts for doing this and had me thinking it may not take off, but I took a risk and it paid off. Luckily, I was able to hire staff because I HAD to hire staff. I was growing exponentially and it was extremely hard for me to say no to clients. My books were filling up and we, at one time, had over 400 visits during the Christmas weekend. The most memorable part so far was when my mom came and witnessed me win Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018.
What was a typical day in your life like when you were beginning The Critter Sitter?
In the beginning, a lot of my days consisted of marketing myself and developing a brand on social media. I know a lot of people so it wasn't hard and it helps that people love seeing pictures of animals! It was easy to grow by word of mouth. I would go to pet visits before work, head to my regular job, head to more visits, then, sometimes, have supper in the car or at home, if I was lucky. At lunch, I would leave as well if I had to. On weekends, I would do pet visits and clean six to eight businesses on my own, until I hired staff for that as well.
What would you have done differently if you could go back and start again, knowing what you know now?
I would absolutely change a lot of things, including making more time for my personal life. I would start by having a business plan, better software for accounting on my end and a better system for tracking the client base. We’re working on fine-tuning things now after 10 years and have recently rebranded. In the end, it’s never too late to get a hold of it.
What steps were the hardest when taking the leap to start The Critter Sitter?
Not seeing my family is still the hardest part of my day. I wake up earlier than them most days and get home after they are in bed. I spend most of my day in my vehicle and in other people's homes. It is hard to navigate the steps of opening your own business, but I knew the right people to ask, as I worked for 28 years in the restaurant business. It's not what you know, it's who you know. I had an extreme amount of assistance in opening the business.
What advice do you have for readers considering taking this leap?
It’s important to really think about how to keep your work and personal life separate. Your family means more to you than a paycheck. Just because you are busy, that won’t make you successful, it just makes you stressed. Hire a good team and an assistant (when you can) that knows you in and out. Lastly, make time for self-care and making memories with your family. Those you will remember more than how much money you made or how much work you did!
What else would you like to add regarding your personal experience in taking this risk?
Not everyone is going to like you. You will have bad experiences, but you can chalk it up to learning. Do what you can to make it right and move on, as that's all you can do. Don't let negativity make a space to live in your head.
What is something you wish more people knew about The Critter Sitter?
We also house-sit for people! We water flowers, check the mail and do minor chores. We make sure that all is right for when they return home, including the basic groceries.
(701) 426-5063
crittersitterrocks@gmail.com
@CritterSitterRocks
