Smithtown Businesswomen Beat the Economy

You Learn by Living,You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, “I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” You must do the thing you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt

By Erica Jackson  

Despite reports by the United States Women’s Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) that women-owned businesses are doing poorly in the economy, local women business owners are touting  high sales.According to USWCC, women-owned business market share has dropped ten percent over the last decade with nearly 50 percent of all women-owned firms reporting sales of less than $10,000 annually.  However, Angela Poppe, president of the Smithtown Business & Professional Women’s Network, says those statistics don’t apply to her company or to a number of her Organization’s 65 member businesses.  She said, “Actually women’s businesses are doing pretty well.”

The question of “how” comes to mind: In this economy, businesses — whether owned by a male or female — are discouraged by declining business.  Poppe says women business owners know how to “get out of their comfort zone and get creative.”  They also, she said, “are good at going above and beyond for their family and children.” For example, Poppe says to keep her home-based wellness company above the water, she started thinking outside the box and rather than focusing on boosting sales, she put her energy into donating her products for fundraisers. The end result — increased sales.  “It was a way for me to give back, but in the circle of things,it helped my business.”

What also aided her three-year-old business was networking.  “Networking has become so important. Women supporting other women has really helped,” said Poppe. And that’s just what the Smithtown Business & Professional Women’s Network does — provide networking opportunities for women business owners. “We meet and focus on social networking and motivation every month. We keep people positive,” said Poppe.

The organization also has an unwritten rule to support member businesses.  Whenever Jennifer Ryan, a professional organizer and motivational coach, who owns her own home-based business, Create New Order, needs services, she pulls out a list of fellow Smithtown Business & Professional Women’s Network members.  “We support each other and have created an environment where we can learn and share with each other.”

Networking, said Ryan, who is a former president of the Smithtown Business & Professional Network, has certainly helped her business in these economic times, but so has thinking outside of the box. When the economy began to decline, Ryan said she sat down with her assistant to work out a new business plan. She knew that people weren’t going to spend their money on luxury items such as a personal organizer, so she shifted gears and beefed up her lectures and workshops and offered them a lower rate.  The increased  exposure from the lectures and workshops increased her business to the extent that she had to hire additional staff and has a waiting list of new clients.

“I have been very lucky,” said Ryan, who says she has seen other personal organizers lose their businesses in this economy.  “I am fortunate that I am broad and can not only coach and organize, but I can help businesses with their strategies.  I do commercial, residential and between the ears.”

Diane and Jennifer Dente, mother-daughter owners of Metamorphous, a women’s clothing store in StJames has also worked  through the economy, despite being classified as a specialty shop.

Yes, Diane said business did slow down, but she said as the economy started to dwindle, she and her daughter looked to lower their price point.  Where before, Diane said they bought and sold $3,000 gowns, the last few seasons they brought in more of a mix.  “We went into lines that were more price conscious,” said Diane.
It helped the business and Diane says the last few months she has seen a turnaround with more and more customers coming in to spend.

In general Steven Webber, executive director of the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce, said it seems that local businesses,which have onsite parking available are doing very well and things are starting to change for the better.  Executive Director of the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce Barbara Franco agreed:  “Its summer time and people are out on the street, shopping more than they did before.  The economy is starting to turn slowly.