Pike young entrepreneurs make mark in Tug Valley Chamber







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Nine companies owned and operated by young business people from Mingo and Pike counties participated in the 3rd Yearly Youthful Business people Day sponsored by the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce in Williamson, West Virginia. The function was very prosperous for the younger organization homeowners, according to Chamber officials.




WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A task that began as a basic discussion involving the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce’s president and govt director has turned into a effective plan now in its third installment and is expanding more powerful every single yr.

“In 2020, the TVCC Executive Director Randall Sanger and I, were speaking about suggestions of how we as a chamber could start partaking our foreseeable future organization owners,” Chamber President Chris Dotson mentioned. “After a tiny little bit of brainstorming, Younger Business owners Working day was produced. Since of the pandemic, lots of youth activities had been cancelled, so this plan also gave our youthful business people one thing new to aim on outdoors of their regular things to do.”

She mentioned the method, which was held on July 16 at the Williamson Subject Residence, was designed to offer a way for youth ages 8 to 18 to get started discovering little small business ownership. YED candidates ought to make their have solutions, operate their have booth, market place and advertise their products and solutions, discover about pricing, and additional.

To assistance the contributors alongside the way, the Chamber delivers each YED participant a organization coach from the TVCC membership. The coach allows the YED participant have an understanding of what they will need on the actual sector day, how to selling price and current market their products and solutions, and far more beneficial company strategies.

“Our hope is YED will spark the interest of compact organization ownership in our individuals,” Dotson reported. “We want to support youth in our location who have an interest in proudly owning a business enterprise someday. This is our next generation of compact organization house owners that will keep our cities vibrant and alive. Judging by the individuals we have had in the three a long time of YED, our compact business enterprise foreseeable future is dazzling.”







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Nine companies owned and operated by youthful entrepreneurs from Mingo and Pike counties participated in the Third Yearly Youthful Business owners Day sponsored by the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce in Williamson, West Virginia. The occasion was extremely effective for the younger small business owners, in accordance to Chamber officers.




From its inception, the software has been effective and has attracted youth contributors not only from Mingo County but also from neighboring Pike County as nicely.

“This 12 months we even experienced a younger entrepreneur from Elkhorn City,” Chamber Government Director Randall Sanger said. “During our 1st YED, we had a person from Grundy, Virginia, set up a booth. We are acquiring men and women from fairly a way coming to YED.”

The 3rd Yearly YED was a great achievements, in accordance to Dotson and Sanger.

“Our members gained in between $100 to just about $900,” Dotson said. “Randall and I had been satisfied to hear good feedback from those people attending the event, as properly. Many purchasers arrived to me to brag about the high quality of the YED booths and merchandise offered this year. Customers had been impressed with the little ones and how nicely they have been geared up with high quality merchandise.

“It’s also a success when we see our younger entrepreneurs depart content,” she ongoing. This year our youthful business owners remaining smiling, so that is a get on its individual.”

An case in point of the good results Dotson talked about is that of Blessed Animals Boutique owned and operated by Katelynn Reed. She was paired with Chamber mentor Crystal Very little who owns Sky Superior Geckos and Exotics in downtown Williamson.

Earlier this week, an announcement was made that Fortunate Pets goods is now obtainable at Sky High Geckos pet shop. Blessed Pets models and sells custom made extras for animals and pet proprietors.

“YED 2022 was a substantial good results. It is just one of my most loved gatherings that the TVCC hosts,” Sanger stated. “It’s a good instrument for our area kids to experience the numerous jobs of running a smaller small business. It is neat to observe them as they really feel the enjoyment and the work included in owning a business enterprise. These young children are our upcoming organization leaders, and YED is a ideal party for the Chamber to assistance them mould and hone the competencies they are going to want in the upcoming.”

Dotson agreed: “For me, YED is almost certainly my favourite TVCC application. Fostering a enjoy of business enterprise in our youth, displaying them they can be thriving in company correct listed here at dwelling, and allowing for them an option to showcase their abilities via their booth are just a couple of the excellent features of YED.”

Doston explained the Chamber is already searching ahead to the Fourth Annual YED future yr

“We hope to see some of our past members again with us as well as new enterprise house owners,” she stated. “We hope the software proceeds to mature and achieve youth all over the location.”

All those participating in this year’s YED were being:

• Lele and Maxie Brock, Sprinkles’ Sweets, Chattaroy, West Virginia, homemade baked merchandise

• Josie Thomas and Courtney Muncy, JC Beads, Delbarton, West Virginia, beaded bracelets, necklaces, anklets and rings as properly as tie-dye things

• Katelynn Reed, Lucky Animals Boutique, Belfry, components for pets and pet owners

• Kylee Thompson, Kylee’s Dog Treats, Belfry, dog treats and human treats

• Becca Robinette, Becca’s Clay Creations, Hatfield,, handmade jewelry

• Cheyann Smith and Kyla Curry, KC Crafts, Huddy, handmade bracelets, necklaces and keyrings

• Sawyer James, Sawyer’s Lemonade, Canada, lemonade and frozen lemonade and

• Molly Blankenship, The Handmade Hippie, Elkhorn Town, resin merchandise and handmade jewelry.