October 5, 2024 • 24 mins
10/5 Misty Enright (Misty Enright Photography) and Maria Mears (Stroll NoCo and Stroll Glen Oaks)
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Chimber Connection on Talk Radio ten eighty,
a program designed for small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and
community members who are eager to learn more about the
intricacies of running a successful business, hosted each week by
the dedicated staff of the Chamber of Saint Matthews. Now
here's your host for this week, Josh Souter, CEO.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Good afternoon and welcome to the Chamber of Connection. My
name is Josh Suter and I will be your host today.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Today.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I'm excited having the studio with me, Misty Enright with
Misty Right Photography and Maria Meres with droll Noko, a
publication for Norton Commons Residence and stroe Glenn Oakes. Welcome,
Misty and Maria.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
So we're gonna start off with a question for both
of you. And Misty, I'll let you go first. Tell
me a little bit about your background and what inspired
you to start your own business.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Well, I've been doing our bit around photography for my
whole life. My dad was an amateur photographer when I
was little, so we took a lot of pictures of
flowers and clouds and things like that. So there were
cameras in our family always, and I was always the
girl with a camera. So in high school, middle school wherever,
(01:19):
I was the one who was taking all the pictures
of the friends, the field trips, all the things. So
I didn't know that's what I wanted to do, but
I thought that maybe that was what I wanted to
do from a very young age. And then when I
was in college it ended up not being what I
wanted to do. And then when I got out of college,
it was like, hey, yeah, that's what I'm going to do.
(01:41):
So when I met my husband, we ended up in
California for one of his jobs, and there wasn't really
we were moving a lot in a short amount of time,
so photography made sense. I started taking a lot of pictures,
kind of doing what my dad was doing, taking a
lot of churches, buildings, people, things like that. And then
when we got to a place where we settled in,
(02:04):
I just said, this is what I want to do
and I just started a business.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Nice how about you, Maria.
Speaker 6 (02:11):
So my background, really, writing has always been my you know, Misty.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Was the photographer.
Speaker 6 (02:18):
I was always the girl with the with the writing
in the corner, writing stories, and so I love writing
and being creative. And then in high school I got
connected with our newspapers staff and I was also the
editor of our literary magazine. Yeah, and so you know,
at eighteen years old, when you have pie in the
(02:38):
sky dreams, I wanted to be, you know, the next
Poeltry Prize winning journalist. So that was my goal. Then
life happens, and so I ended up actually taking a
job into sales and kind of enjoyed that too, because
it's fun times getting to meet other people and help
them with their problems through whatever you do. So long
story short, I found ato through moving into Norton Commons
(03:03):
and found a great way to express both with writing
and photography and stories and sales and all that kind
of is all wrapped up into one with with my publications.
So I love it, and I love being able to
tell people's stories still, but through a publication instead of
(03:26):
a newspaper.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
See. And what I didn't tell our viewers earlier is
that Misty's my official photographer. I don't hire anybody else
to take my headshots. And Marie and I go back
a little too far, like high school days.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
We were in a high.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
School journalism workshop together, so I'm pretty pumped that I
get to interview you both today.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
We were both there for our joy of love of writing.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
All right, Misty, this one's going to be pitched to you.
What do you love most about what you do?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
That's easy.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
It's just meeting new people and getting to connect with
them and then getting to create awesome photos for them.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Whether it's a high.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
School senior that wants something a little edgy or a
little different, or a business owner who just wants to
stand out in their uh against their competition, or just
a company that wants me to come in and shoot
all their headshots, it doesn't matter because I get to
create something different every single day, and so I love
(04:25):
working for myself.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
I love, you know, being able to do something different
every day.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
And I just like Maria said, I love being creative
and that's kind of what drives me.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
So Maria a different take on this question for you.
You're part of a national brand, So what do you
love most about that? So?
Speaker 6 (04:43):
Actually, so the parent company to Stroll is the Into Company.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Into Company a couple.
Speaker 6 (04:48):
Of years ago actually rebranded the whole division two Stroll.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
And the thing I you know, I was a little leery.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
At first, I was like, Okay, what's happening here, But
I see the benefit of having that national brand identity.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Now Stroll has a lot of buy in.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
The company actually just recently got their first national sale,
so that's been pretty exciting. We have a company that's
in over five hundred of our Stroll publications all across
the US, and that's been really exciting. So starting to
see a lot of buy in from national companies. And
the other thing that I truly love is I'll be
(05:26):
sitting at the neighborhood bar in Norton Commons as we do,
and I'm chatting with the person next.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
To us, because I'll talk to anybody, let's be honest, and.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
Talking to the person like, oh, I get a Stroll
in my house in Texas. So you know, people are
making that connection all across the US of what Stroll
is and that you know, it's it's a fun way
to you know, share residence stories.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Absolutely all right, this one's for both of you, and
I don't care who goes first. Can you describe your
typical customer and how you attract and retain them?
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Maria is pointing to me, so I guess I will go,
I guess I'm looking for something somebody who is looking
for something different. Right, As with every business, there's a
lot of competition, and I think what sets me apart
is just my ability to see things in a little
(06:26):
bit of a different way. I used to say, you know,
people used to say that I had a great eye,
but I say I have too, so because I do
see things in a little bit of a different way.
In having a you know, I have a communications background
of theater background from college. It allows me to talk
(06:48):
to anybody and get to the root of what we're
trying to say with these photos. I'm a very visual learner,
so by putting a visual front out that helps me
help them create what they whatever we're looking for, whether
it's a kid's first birthday or high school senior, or
business or whatever. But that's who I'm looking for as
(07:09):
somebody that's willing to step outside of the box and
just roll with the creative.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
So what some people might also not know is that
Missy is the official photographer for Stroll glen Oaks and
Stroll nort In Commons. Yes, and so she actually helps
me sometimes get my clients because people see the amazing
photography in the publication and that draws them in because
people get very excited when they open their mailboxes and
they see a publication with this adorable family on the
(07:39):
cover or keep fluffy dog or whatever. She really captures
those clients, those residents and makes it stand out. So
we really do work together a lot on those things.
But my typical customer, I love a small business. I
love helping small business owners gain exposure in these communities
because a lot of times, you know, they're just starting
(08:01):
out and they really want to get in front of
the people and you know these higher end, you know,
kind of affluent neighborhoods. And I have a really great
and fun way to do that. So any business that's
looking to you know, kind of cut through all the
noise in mailboxes and digital and all that. We can
kind of really get customers into that backstage pass. And
(08:21):
we do that and we retain them through again a
lot of fun that we have in the neighborhood. We
really connect residents and businesses on a personal level.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Let's be honest.
Speaker 6 (08:31):
People want to do business with people, and that's what
I'm here to do.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
And they want to do business with people that they like,
no like and trust is what I always say.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, I always tell people all the time, you're not
buying the chamber, you're buying the team.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
You like us, you'll like the chamber. If you don't
like us, you're not going to stick her.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Out, all right.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
So let's talk a little bit about trends in your industry,
because you both through very much in industries where things
are in a constant ebb and flow. So how do
you ensure you stay ahead of the trends and how
do you keep your business innovative?
Speaker 4 (09:01):
For me, it's education.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
I go to conferences every year and that's where we
get a preview of what the new trends are, whether
it's technology based or if it's what people are buying
from other photographers in other parts of the country, what's coming.
That is just a really important part of my business
and something that I try to do every year. With
(09:25):
technology side, I try to flip my cameras and my
lenses every eighteen months to two years. I want to
be my husband always says, I want to be one
step behind.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Whatever the top of the line.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Is, which is true though, because you know, the top
of the line has bugs and quirks and kinks. So
you know, if you stay one step behind the top
of the line, you'll know what's going on. And that's
just how I do it for my business.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
So for me, this is kind of where being part
of a national brand is really great because they do
stay ahead of a lot of the trends and stuff.
When it comes to the actual publication, we have a
really great marketing and design team that's really trying to
make the publications look even more high end and stay
within the local trend the name you know, national trends
(10:15):
of publications and all that kind of stuff. For my
own business, I also go to conferences multiple times a
year hearing about new technology ways to you know, keep
ensure that you're getting your good leads and great CRMs
and all that kind of stuff. So and also, you know,
we we as a national organization get to bounce ideas
(10:37):
off each other. So I have, you know, not just
the people here locally, which there's quite a you know,
there's five or six of us here locally, but we
also have the power of having you know, five hundred
people across the US that do what I do, and
I can you know, reach out to them if I need.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Help with things absolutely, and I know you both well
enough to know you stay on top of things. If
I have questions about photography, I know who I'm calling,
and when it comes to publications, I don't really know
what I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
That's why I have around.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
So we're going to continue our conversation over the next
couple of minutes. When we come back, we're going to
talk about some challenges in business, marketing strategies and even
some advice from these small business owners.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
So stay with us.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
We'll be back with Misty and Wright and Maria Meres
on Talk Radio ten eighty.
Speaker 7 (11:28):
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Speaker 3 (11:41):
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Speaker 3 (11:45):
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Speaker 7 (11:47):
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Speaker 1 (11:58):
Talk Radio ten Real News, Real Talk.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Welcome back to the Chamber Connection on Talk Radio ten eighty.
I'm Josh Suer, your host today with me again as
mister Enwright and Maria Meers, and we're going to dive
right into our next question. So we're going to talk
about challenges as a small business owner, because I know
for a fact not every day is rainbows and sunshine.
Speaker 6 (12:22):
Oh, come on, Josh, we're talking about I live in
pretty pretty princess world.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Josh, I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
We're getting ready to have real talk, real talk. Are
you ready?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
So what are the biggest challenges you have faced as
a small business owner and how did you overcome that?
And Maria, we're going to let you go first this day.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
Cool.
Speaker 6 (12:41):
So I think my biggest was the beginning of my publication.
I took over its franchise that I do own, and
I started. I left my eighteen year job in sales,
took a leap of faith in November of twenty nineteen.
So we may do the math on that November twenty nineteen.
(13:02):
You know it's coming next. So I started ramping up
this publication, got a phone call that we've been going
to print soon, and then you know, Uncle Andy shut
the world down.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
So he did.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
I get it, but you know, Uncle Andy did, and
so it then became a how in the world am
I going to get this thing to print without being
able to leave my house and meet businesses. And that's
where I turned to the Chamber of Saint Matthew's. I
am lucky that they decided instead of shutting the doors,
they were going to turn everything to virtual zoom.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
And so trying to launch.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
The rest of a publication and grow a publication that
is really based on relationship building, which is very hard
to do when you can't leave your house, I really
turned to the Chamber for that. So that's how I
met a lot of business owners and started connecting with
residents to through zoom and so doing that virtually for
the first year or so was very complicated, but I
(14:01):
made it happen, and you know, here.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
We are today and we entertained her all day.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 6 (14:07):
It was a blast, and I went to so many
chamber things. I became Chamber Member of the Year.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
They and we met and we met over zoom.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Yes, yep, that was.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
How We've fostered a lot of these relationships and the
chamber was through that. That's zoom bonding and really bad
singing of a happy birthday.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
True story.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Yeah, So I had two big challenges. I have day
to day challenges in that I'm a one woman you
know show, I'm I'm your I do all the tax prep,
I'm the editor, I take the photos, I do the
sales consults, I take your inquiries. I'm maintaining the mailing
(14:49):
all the things. So I'm you know, my name's on
the business and I'm who you get. But the two
biggest challenges for me was we moved here to Louisville
in at the end of twenty thirteen. So I had
an established business in Connecticut in Stanford, Connecticut for almost
ten years, and so to move to Louisville, Kentucky, I'm
(15:11):
from Kentucky.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
That wasn't the challenge.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
The challenge was bringing a small business in to a
market that had no idea what it was like. But
I my first internship in college was with the Lexington Chambers,
So I knew as soon as we got settled that
I was joining the Chamber just to meet new people
and to get the word out. The second was like Maria,
(15:34):
I signed my first studio lease on Friday the thirteenth,
twenty twenty, and that was a two year lease.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, so that was the drum run what happens next?
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Yeah, so we know what happens then, uncle Andy, but.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
We you know, you sign a lease.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
So I'm transitioning from a wedding photographer to a studio photographer.
Have no idea who's going to come in the door.
All I know that twenty twenty was going to be
my year. I'd been building relationships all of twenty nineteen.
I was like, I told my husband, Wow, twenty twenty
is my year.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
This is the year where all the magic happens. And
none of the magic happened. It didn't. It didn't happen.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
But that's okay because it gave me time in the
studio to really learn what being a studio photographer was
and honing my craft and doing that because I.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Was the I you know, that was my space.
Speaker 5 (16:29):
So if my kids got, you know, bored with us
doing school at home, we could come to.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
The studio because it was just ours. So that was great.
I could use them as models.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
I have so many pictures of them modeling for me
in various you know, outfits and things. So it was
a blessing in disguise because when we were able to
open then it did come back. But yeah, those are
the two biggest challenges. Is moving to a new market
and then opening a studio on Friday the thirteenth, twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
That's why we don't use the word covid anymore. It's
like we don't talk about Bruno, we don't talk about
covid an. It's the before times exactly. So we're gonna
move to happier times. And that is to the world
of marketing strategies because I know you both well enough
to know you know how to put your businesses out there.
So how are you marketing in your business? And what
(17:25):
do you see as the most effective techniques?
Speaker 6 (17:29):
I mean, how do you market a company that markets?
It is always entertaining, right It's always the question right now.
I think one of the biggest things, of course, is
to be part of a chamber of commerce or someplace
where you can network, get your name out there, be
a person in the room, get people to get to
know who you are. So of course, you know, boots
(17:52):
on the ground is always the number one strategy. I
always tell people whenever I meet with a small business
and you know, maybe they're not it's not a good
time to start, you know, advertising, or they don't have
the funds. I'm like, boots on the ground is your
number one way to do it. You just got to
be the person that's out there spreading the word. But also,
you know, I utilize a lot of social media, you know, Instagram, Facebook,
(18:14):
Still I do run some Facebook lead gen kind of ads.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
You know.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Just really, I think you can't do enough things. Don't
try just one avenue. You've got to do multiple things
to get because you never know what you're who you're
going to hit. That's always my biggest thing. I can't
I can't be your only source. Chamber can't be your
only source. You got to use them all together get
to gain that exposure.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Truth.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
I don't know who they is, but they always say
that when you're a small business, you need seven points
of contact with the business. Right so you can have
your social media, your website, your you know, networking, your
ads in a publication, but they still need seven into
contact to really remember.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
You know who you are.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
And I think the greatest compliment of being out in
the community is you know, I was somewhere the other
day and the woman's like.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Oh, what's your name? And I said my name and
she's like, oh, you're a photographer. I've heard of you.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Well, I'd never met this woman before, so I don't
know where she got my name, but it was one
of those seven times that she's come across at I guess.
But for me, it's a word of mouth because if
you do what you do, and you do what you
do well, then people won't.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Be able to stop talking about it.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
And I'm not saying I like to be the center
of attention, but it is nice. It's a nice compliment
to hear when people are talking about what you do
for them. So word about mouth has always been really
important to me as one of those seven yeah things.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
That I mean the residence in my community is talking
about the publication doesn't hurt either, right saying and Missy
talking about my publications.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Look, I get talk about.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Well when I get it, you two talk about the chamber,
so we see the benefit through what you all do
as well. All right, so let's talk about being a
small business owner. What advice would you give to that
person who's like, I'm ready to give up my eighteen
year career and dive into a business on my own.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
I don't even remember that you heard that anymore.
Speaker 6 (20:24):
Can you get a crystal ball and check what the
future holds, because that would be helpful.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Fingers across, there's no more pandemic.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Y what, we don't use that word either anymore. No,
I think it's just you. You got to be prepared. I
was actually there was a if anybody is a football
fan at all, there's a football coach named Dabo Sweeney.
(20:54):
I know, I know Missy's not happy with that, but anyway,
Davo Sweeney was on a national call that end two
put together one time, and he said, when it comes
to business, when it comes to football, when it comes
to anything, you got to embrace the suck.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Not wrong, you just got to.
Speaker 6 (21:08):
Embrace the suck. So you've got to just you're gonna
have to have some grit. You're gonna have to you know, like,
not every day's rainbows and sunshine, but I got through
a pandemic. You know it's yours cheers, right, So you
just really have to understand that. It sounds amazing to
start your own business. But you know there's gonna be
(21:30):
some days where you don't want to get out of it.
You just gotta embrace the suck and get up and
keep going.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
And when you're a small business, the buck stops with you, right,
So it is you.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
It is you.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
So you know, if there's a problem or a mistake,
it's not like you could say, all right, Susie and
accounting made that error.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
No, it's you that made that air.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
So you need to make sure that you know enough
about business and whatever it is that you want your
business to be about, because I don't think I was
ready for the business side of being a business owner.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
I was a creative.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
All right, we're gonna end on a high note here.
So who has been your biggest support system or mentor
throughout your journey this to go?
Speaker 5 (22:23):
I mean, my biggest cheerleader is my family, with the
exception of the ribbon cutting incident, which we can talk
about that off cam, but my you know, really it's
been my family. You know, Chris has supported me since
we've known each other. I'm coming up on twenty years
(22:44):
in business and so we've been married twenty years next year,
So I mean he's been with me through the thick
and thin of it. My family, his family, I mean,
they are my biggest cheerleaders, so I.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
Think you know my husband.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
Of course, my husband and I just celebrate our nineteenth
wedding anniversary, so we're right there.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
He's always.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
Given me the latitude to do follow my dream. When
I told him this was my dream job, so he said,
who am I to stand in the way of your dream?
Speaker 4 (23:13):
And so you know, he's been great.
Speaker 6 (23:14):
I have some other great mentors and people that have
helped me through the publication industry over the years. One
of our friends, Russell Riilly, she helped me through some
journalism stuff. And of course all the people at END
two have been my cheerleaders from day one and still are.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So you know, I owe it all to all those people.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Well, I want to take a minute thank you both
for being with us today on Talk Radio ten eighty
Misty Enwright and Maria Meers. If you're interested in learning
more about the Chamber of check out our website Saint
Matthew Chamber dot com and make sure you come back
next Sunday, next Saturday, not Sunday eleven am. You'll hear
from Billy Feller with the Benefits Firm on Talk Radio
(23:55):
ten eighty.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
You have a great day, everybody.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Thank you, thank you.
Welcome to the Chimber Connection on Talk Radio ten eighty,
a program designed for small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, and
community members who are eager to learn more about the
intricacies of running a successful business, hosted each week by
the dedicated staff of the Chamber of Saint Matthews. Now
here's your host for this week, Josh Souter, CEO.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Good afternoon and welcome to the Chamber of Connection. My
name is Josh Suter and I will be your host today.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Today.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I'm excited having the studio with me, Misty Enright with
Misty Right Photography and Maria Meres with droll Noko, a
publication for Norton Commons Residence and stroe Glenn Oakes. Welcome,
Misty and Maria.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
Thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
So we're gonna start off with a question for both
of you. And Misty, I'll let you go first. Tell
me a little bit about your background and what inspired
you to start your own business.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Well, I've been doing our bit around photography for my
whole life. My dad was an amateur photographer when I
was little, so we took a lot of pictures of
flowers and clouds and things like that. So there were
cameras in our family always, and I was always the
girl with a camera. So in high school, middle school wherever,
(01:19):
I was the one who was taking all the pictures
of the friends, the field trips, all the things. So
I didn't know that's what I wanted to do, but
I thought that maybe that was what I wanted to
do from a very young age. And then when I
was in college it ended up not being what I
wanted to do. And then when I got out of college,
it was like, hey, yeah, that's what I'm going to do.
(01:41):
So when I met my husband, we ended up in
California for one of his jobs, and there wasn't really
we were moving a lot in a short amount of time,
so photography made sense. I started taking a lot of pictures,
kind of doing what my dad was doing, taking a
lot of churches, buildings, people, things like that. And then
when we got to a place where we settled in,
(02:04):
I just said, this is what I want to do
and I just started a business.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Nice how about you, Maria.
Speaker 6 (02:11):
So my background, really, writing has always been my you know, Misty.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Was the photographer.
Speaker 6 (02:18):
I was always the girl with the with the writing
in the corner, writing stories, and so I love writing
and being creative. And then in high school I got
connected with our newspapers staff and I was also the
editor of our literary magazine. Yeah, and so you know,
at eighteen years old, when you have pie in the
(02:38):
sky dreams, I wanted to be, you know, the next
Poeltry Prize winning journalist. So that was my goal. Then
life happens, and so I ended up actually taking a
job into sales and kind of enjoyed that too, because
it's fun times getting to meet other people and help
them with their problems through whatever you do. So long
story short, I found ato through moving into Norton Commons
(03:03):
and found a great way to express both with writing
and photography and stories and sales and all that kind
of is all wrapped up into one with with my publications.
So I love it, and I love being able to
tell people's stories still, but through a publication instead of
(03:26):
a newspaper.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
See. And what I didn't tell our viewers earlier is
that Misty's my official photographer. I don't hire anybody else
to take my headshots. And Marie and I go back
a little too far, like high school days.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
We were in a high.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
School journalism workshop together, so I'm pretty pumped that I
get to interview you both today.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
We were both there for our joy of love of writing.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
All right, Misty, this one's going to be pitched to you.
What do you love most about what you do?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
That's easy.
Speaker 5 (03:56):
It's just meeting new people and getting to connect with
them and then getting to create awesome photos for them.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Whether it's a high.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
School senior that wants something a little edgy or a
little different, or a business owner who just wants to
stand out in their uh against their competition, or just
a company that wants me to come in and shoot
all their headshots, it doesn't matter because I get to
create something different every single day, and so I love
(04:25):
working for myself.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
I love, you know, being able to do something different
every day.
Speaker 5 (04:29):
And I just like Maria said, I love being creative
and that's kind of what drives me.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
So Maria a different take on this question for you.
You're part of a national brand, So what do you
love most about that? So?
Speaker 6 (04:43):
Actually, so the parent company to Stroll is the Into Company.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Into Company a couple.
Speaker 6 (04:48):
Of years ago actually rebranded the whole division two Stroll.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
And the thing I you know, I was a little leery.
Speaker 6 (04:55):
At first, I was like, Okay, what's happening here, But
I see the benefit of having that national brand identity.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Now Stroll has a lot of buy in.
Speaker 6 (05:05):
The company actually just recently got their first national sale,
so that's been pretty exciting. We have a company that's
in over five hundred of our Stroll publications all across
the US, and that's been really exciting. So starting to
see a lot of buy in from national companies. And
the other thing that I truly love is I'll be
(05:26):
sitting at the neighborhood bar in Norton Commons as we do,
and I'm chatting with the person next.
Speaker 4 (05:32):
To us, because I'll talk to anybody, let's be honest, and.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
Talking to the person like, oh, I get a Stroll
in my house in Texas. So you know, people are
making that connection all across the US of what Stroll
is and that you know, it's it's a fun way
to you know, share residence stories.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Absolutely all right, this one's for both of you, and
I don't care who goes first. Can you describe your
typical customer and how you attract and retain them?
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Maria is pointing to me, so I guess I will go,
I guess I'm looking for something somebody who is looking
for something different. Right, As with every business, there's a
lot of competition, and I think what sets me apart
is just my ability to see things in a little
(06:26):
bit of a different way. I used to say, you know,
people used to say that I had a great eye,
but I say I have too, so because I do
see things in a little bit of a different way.
In having a you know, I have a communications background
of theater background from college. It allows me to talk
(06:48):
to anybody and get to the root of what we're
trying to say with these photos. I'm a very visual learner,
so by putting a visual front out that helps me
help them create what they whatever we're looking for, whether
it's a kid's first birthday or high school senior, or
business or whatever. But that's who I'm looking for as
(07:09):
somebody that's willing to step outside of the box and
just roll with the creative.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
So what some people might also not know is that
Missy is the official photographer for Stroll glen Oaks and
Stroll nort In Commons. Yes, and so she actually helps
me sometimes get my clients because people see the amazing
photography in the publication and that draws them in because
people get very excited when they open their mailboxes and
they see a publication with this adorable family on the
(07:39):
cover or keep fluffy dog or whatever. She really captures
those clients, those residents and makes it stand out. So
we really do work together a lot on those things.
But my typical customer, I love a small business. I
love helping small business owners gain exposure in these communities
because a lot of times, you know, they're just starting
(08:01):
out and they really want to get in front of
the people and you know these higher end, you know,
kind of affluent neighborhoods. And I have a really great
and fun way to do that. So any business that's
looking to you know, kind of cut through all the
noise in mailboxes and digital and all that. We can
kind of really get customers into that backstage pass. And
(08:21):
we do that and we retain them through again a
lot of fun that we have in the neighborhood. We
really connect residents and businesses on a personal level.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Let's be honest.
Speaker 6 (08:31):
People want to do business with people, and that's what
I'm here to do.
Speaker 5 (08:34):
And they want to do business with people that they like,
no like and trust is what I always say.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Yeah, I always tell people all the time, you're not
buying the chamber, you're buying the team.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
You like us, you'll like the chamber. If you don't
like us, you're not going to stick her.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Out, all right.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
So let's talk a little bit about trends in your industry,
because you both through very much in industries where things
are in a constant ebb and flow. So how do
you ensure you stay ahead of the trends and how
do you keep your business innovative?
Speaker 4 (09:01):
For me, it's education.
Speaker 5 (09:03):
I go to conferences every year and that's where we
get a preview of what the new trends are, whether
it's technology based or if it's what people are buying
from other photographers in other parts of the country, what's coming.
That is just a really important part of my business
and something that I try to do every year. With
(09:25):
technology side, I try to flip my cameras and my
lenses every eighteen months to two years. I want to
be my husband always says, I want to be one
step behind.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Whatever the top of the line.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Is, which is true though, because you know, the top
of the line has bugs and quirks and kinks. So
you know, if you stay one step behind the top
of the line, you'll know what's going on. And that's
just how I do it for my business.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
So for me, this is kind of where being part
of a national brand is really great because they do
stay ahead of a lot of the trends and stuff.
When it comes to the actual publication, we have a
really great marketing and design team that's really trying to
make the publications look even more high end and stay
within the local trend the name you know, national trends
(10:15):
of publications and all that kind of stuff. For my
own business, I also go to conferences multiple times a
year hearing about new technology ways to you know, keep
ensure that you're getting your good leads and great CRMs
and all that kind of stuff. So and also, you know,
we we as a national organization get to bounce ideas
(10:37):
off each other. So I have, you know, not just
the people here locally, which there's quite a you know,
there's five or six of us here locally, but we
also have the power of having you know, five hundred
people across the US that do what I do, and
I can you know, reach out to them if I need.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Help with things absolutely, and I know you both well
enough to know you stay on top of things. If
I have questions about photography, I know who I'm calling,
and when it comes to publications, I don't really know
what I'm doing.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
That's why I have around.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
So we're going to continue our conversation over the next
couple of minutes. When we come back, we're going to
talk about some challenges in business, marketing strategies and even
some advice from these small business owners.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
So stay with us.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
We'll be back with Misty and Wright and Maria Meres
on Talk Radio ten eighty.
Speaker 7 (11:28):
Does your business need health insurance? The Benefits Firm is
here to help with a Saint Matthew's Chamber insurance plan.
We can help your small business with health insurance. Our
plants to the Saint Matthew's Chamber cover between two and
two and fifty employees.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
We offer high quality.
Speaker 7 (11:42):
Anthem health insurance with the best statewide and national networks.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
You do not need to wait for your annewal.
Speaker 7 (11:47):
If you're interested, please contact me Billy Fowler, President of
the Benefits Firm, at five zero two four six eight
one six ninety four or email me at Billy at
the benefits firm dot Com.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Talk Radio ten Real News, Real Talk.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Welcome back to the Chamber Connection on Talk Radio ten eighty.
I'm Josh Suer, your host today with me again as
mister Enwright and Maria Meers, and we're going to dive
right into our next question. So we're going to talk
about challenges as a small business owner, because I know
for a fact not every day is rainbows and sunshine.
Speaker 6 (12:22):
Oh, come on, Josh, we're talking about I live in
pretty pretty princess world.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
Josh, I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
We're getting ready to have real talk, real talk. Are
you ready?
Speaker 2 (12:31):
So what are the biggest challenges you have faced as
a small business owner and how did you overcome that?
And Maria, we're going to let you go first this day.
Speaker 4 (12:39):
Cool.
Speaker 6 (12:41):
So I think my biggest was the beginning of my publication.
I took over its franchise that I do own, and
I started. I left my eighteen year job in sales,
took a leap of faith in November of twenty nineteen.
So we may do the math on that November twenty nineteen.
(13:02):
You know it's coming next. So I started ramping up
this publication, got a phone call that we've been going
to print soon, and then you know, Uncle Andy shut
the world down.
Speaker 4 (13:12):
So he did.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
I get it, but you know, Uncle Andy did, and
so it then became a how in the world am
I going to get this thing to print without being
able to leave my house and meet businesses. And that's
where I turned to the Chamber of Saint Matthew's. I
am lucky that they decided instead of shutting the doors,
they were going to turn everything to virtual zoom.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
And so trying to launch.
Speaker 6 (13:39):
The rest of a publication and grow a publication that
is really based on relationship building, which is very hard
to do when you can't leave your house, I really
turned to the Chamber for that. So that's how I
met a lot of business owners and started connecting with
residents to through zoom and so doing that virtually for
the first year or so was very complicated, but I
(14:01):
made it happen, and you know, here.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
We are today and we entertained her all day.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 6 (14:07):
It was a blast, and I went to so many
chamber things. I became Chamber Member of the Year.
Speaker 5 (14:11):
They and we met and we met over zoom.
Speaker 4 (14:16):
Yes, yep, that was.
Speaker 6 (14:17):
How We've fostered a lot of these relationships and the
chamber was through that. That's zoom bonding and really bad
singing of a happy birthday.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
True story.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Yeah, So I had two big challenges. I have day
to day challenges in that I'm a one woman you
know show, I'm I'm your I do all the tax prep,
I'm the editor, I take the photos, I do the
sales consults, I take your inquiries. I'm maintaining the mailing
(14:49):
all the things. So I'm you know, my name's on
the business and I'm who you get. But the two
biggest challenges for me was we moved here to Louisville
in at the end of twenty thirteen. So I had
an established business in Connecticut in Stanford, Connecticut for almost
ten years, and so to move to Louisville, Kentucky, I'm
(15:11):
from Kentucky.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
That wasn't the challenge.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
The challenge was bringing a small business in to a
market that had no idea what it was like. But
I my first internship in college was with the Lexington Chambers,
So I knew as soon as we got settled that
I was joining the Chamber just to meet new people
and to get the word out. The second was like Maria,
(15:34):
I signed my first studio lease on Friday the thirteenth,
twenty twenty, and that was a two year lease.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, so that was the drum run what happens next?
Speaker 5 (15:45):
Yeah, so we know what happens then, uncle Andy, but.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
We you know, you sign a lease.
Speaker 5 (15:53):
So I'm transitioning from a wedding photographer to a studio photographer.
Have no idea who's going to come in the door.
All I know that twenty twenty was going to be
my year. I'd been building relationships all of twenty nineteen.
I was like, I told my husband, Wow, twenty twenty
is my year.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
This is the year where all the magic happens. And
none of the magic happened. It didn't. It didn't happen.
Speaker 5 (16:18):
But that's okay because it gave me time in the
studio to really learn what being a studio photographer was
and honing my craft and doing that because I.
Speaker 4 (16:27):
Was the I you know, that was my space.
Speaker 5 (16:29):
So if my kids got, you know, bored with us
doing school at home, we could come to.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
The studio because it was just ours. So that was great.
I could use them as models.
Speaker 5 (16:39):
I have so many pictures of them modeling for me
in various you know, outfits and things. So it was
a blessing in disguise because when we were able to
open then it did come back. But yeah, those are
the two biggest challenges. Is moving to a new market
and then opening a studio on Friday the thirteenth, twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
That's why we don't use the word covid anymore. It's
like we don't talk about Bruno, we don't talk about
covid an. It's the before times exactly. So we're gonna
move to happier times. And that is to the world
of marketing strategies because I know you both well enough
to know you know how to put your businesses out there.
So how are you marketing in your business? And what
(17:25):
do you see as the most effective techniques?
Speaker 6 (17:29):
I mean, how do you market a company that markets?
It is always entertaining, right It's always the question right now.
I think one of the biggest things, of course, is
to be part of a chamber of commerce or someplace
where you can network, get your name out there, be
a person in the room, get people to get to
know who you are. So of course, you know, boots
(17:52):
on the ground is always the number one strategy. I
always tell people whenever I meet with a small business
and you know, maybe they're not it's not a good
time to start, you know, advertising, or they don't have
the funds. I'm like, boots on the ground is your
number one way to do it. You just got to
be the person that's out there spreading the word. But also,
you know, I utilize a lot of social media, you know, Instagram, Facebook,
(18:14):
Still I do run some Facebook lead gen kind of ads.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
You know.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
Just really, I think you can't do enough things. Don't
try just one avenue. You've got to do multiple things
to get because you never know what you're who you're
going to hit. That's always my biggest thing. I can't
I can't be your only source. Chamber can't be your
only source. You got to use them all together get
to gain that exposure.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Truth.
Speaker 5 (18:42):
I don't know who they is, but they always say
that when you're a small business, you need seven points
of contact with the business. Right so you can have
your social media, your website, your you know, networking, your
ads in a publication, but they still need seven into
contact to really remember.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
You know who you are.
Speaker 5 (19:05):
And I think the greatest compliment of being out in
the community is you know, I was somewhere the other
day and the woman's like.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Oh, what's your name? And I said my name and
she's like, oh, you're a photographer. I've heard of you.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Well, I'd never met this woman before, so I don't
know where she got my name, but it was one
of those seven times that she's come across at I guess.
But for me, it's a word of mouth because if
you do what you do, and you do what you
do well, then people won't.
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Be able to stop talking about it.
Speaker 5 (19:33):
And I'm not saying I like to be the center
of attention, but it is nice. It's a nice compliment
to hear when people are talking about what you do
for them. So word about mouth has always been really
important to me as one of those seven yeah things.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
That I mean the residence in my community is talking
about the publication doesn't hurt either, right saying and Missy
talking about my publications.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Look, I get talk about.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
Well when I get it, you two talk about the chamber,
so we see the benefit through what you all do
as well. All right, so let's talk about being a
small business owner. What advice would you give to that
person who's like, I'm ready to give up my eighteen
year career and dive into a business on my own.
Speaker 4 (20:21):
I don't even remember that you heard that anymore.
Speaker 6 (20:24):
Can you get a crystal ball and check what the
future holds, because that would be helpful.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Fingers across, there's no more pandemic.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
Y what, we don't use that word either anymore. No,
I think it's just you. You got to be prepared. I
was actually there was a if anybody is a football
fan at all, there's a football coach named Dabo Sweeney.
(20:54):
I know, I know Missy's not happy with that, but anyway,
Davo Sweeney was on a national call that end two
put together one time, and he said, when it comes
to business, when it comes to football, when it comes
to anything, you got to embrace the suck.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Not wrong, you just got to.
Speaker 6 (21:08):
Embrace the suck. So you've got to just you're gonna
have to have some grit. You're gonna have to you know, like,
not every day's rainbows and sunshine, but I got through
a pandemic. You know it's yours cheers, right, So you
just really have to understand that. It sounds amazing to
start your own business. But you know there's gonna be
(21:30):
some days where you don't want to get out of it.
You just gotta embrace the suck and get up and
keep going.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
And when you're a small business, the buck stops with you, right,
So it is you.
Speaker 4 (21:44):
It is you.
Speaker 5 (21:46):
So you know, if there's a problem or a mistake,
it's not like you could say, all right, Susie and
accounting made that error.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
No, it's you that made that air.
Speaker 5 (21:54):
So you need to make sure that you know enough
about business and whatever it is that you want your
business to be about, because I don't think I was
ready for the business side of being a business owner.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
I was a creative.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
All right, we're gonna end on a high note here.
So who has been your biggest support system or mentor
throughout your journey this to go?
Speaker 5 (22:23):
I mean, my biggest cheerleader is my family, with the
exception of the ribbon cutting incident, which we can talk
about that off cam, but my you know, really it's
been my family. You know, Chris has supported me since
we've known each other. I'm coming up on twenty years
(22:44):
in business and so we've been married twenty years next year,
So I mean he's been with me through the thick
and thin of it. My family, his family, I mean,
they are my biggest cheerleaders, so I.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
Think you know my husband.
Speaker 6 (22:59):
Of course, my husband and I just celebrate our nineteenth
wedding anniversary, so we're right there.
Speaker 4 (23:04):
He's always.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
Given me the latitude to do follow my dream. When
I told him this was my dream job, so he said,
who am I to stand in the way of your dream?
Speaker 4 (23:13):
And so you know, he's been great.
Speaker 6 (23:14):
I have some other great mentors and people that have
helped me through the publication industry over the years. One
of our friends, Russell Riilly, she helped me through some
journalism stuff. And of course all the people at END
two have been my cheerleaders from day one and still are.
Speaker 4 (23:29):
So you know, I owe it all to all those people.
Speaker 3 (23:34):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Well, I want to take a minute thank you both
for being with us today on Talk Radio ten eighty
Misty Enwright and Maria Meers. If you're interested in learning
more about the Chamber of check out our website Saint
Matthew Chamber dot com and make sure you come back
next Sunday, next Saturday, not Sunday eleven am. You'll hear
from Billy Feller with the Benefits Firm on Talk Radio
(23:55):
ten eighty.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
You have a great day, everybody.
Speaker 4 (23:57):
Thank you, thank you.
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