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BUSINESS JOURNALFRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009PAGE 5There’s no place like home Entrepreneurs build their businessesby working from the house.By Dennis SeidBUSINESS JOURNALSALTILLO – Abbie Moreno andRichelle Anderson started their businesses 10 years apart, but they have onething in common: Both of their businesses are based in their homes.Moreno, owner of A Basket Kase, andAnderson, owner of Lighthouse WebDezines, are among the millions ofhome-based businesses that havemushroomed over the years.According to IDC, a national researchcompany, the number of home officehouseholds in the U.S. is between 34.3million and 36.6 million. U.S Censusfigures suggest the number of homebased businesses could be as many as38 million.The U.S. Small Business Administration says home-based businesses makeup roughly half of all U.S. businessesand “are of particular interest becauseof their potential as a wellspring of economic activity.”Home-based businesses are a 425billion industry, fueled by entrepreneursattracted to low start-up costs, flexiblehours and the chance to be their ownboss.Moreno got her idea to sell uniquegift baskets after seeing the number ofbaby and wedding showers at her father’s church.“I always wanted to do something different and I started putting togetherbaskets,” she said. “I didn’t see anythinglike that being done in Tupelo or LeeCounty, so I started doing some research about home-based businesses.”In November, she launched A BasketKase from her home, putting up a Website designed by her friend and fellowentrepreneur, Anderson.“Oh, she’s been great and has offeredso much advice and help,” she said.And Anderson can dispense plenty ofadvice.She started her company in 1998, butit wasn’t until two years ago that thebusiness began to take off.“When I first started, I had just gotteninto Web design,” she said. “It was still anew idea to a lot of people.”So, Anderson “put it down” for a fewyears, concentrating on being a stay-at-etor Trends in Massachusetts and Essex Contact A Basket Kase at (662) 401-2345 or visit www.abas- County: 2001-2006” and his findingsalso led him to look at national trends.ketkase.netAmong them: Contact Lighthouse Web Dezines at (662) 869-1413 or visit The number of American businesseswww.lighthousewebdezines.comincreased 14.2 percent from 2001-2006,even though wage-and-salary employment grew just 5.6 percent. The inhome mom.crease was fueled by sole proprietorsIn late 2007, she was ready to resurand micro-businesses, which grew 17.7rect Lighthouse Web Dezines. Beforepercent and 15.6 percent, respectively.doing so, she upgraded her skills, took In 2006, the U.S. had nearly 34.5some classes and seminars to find outmillion proprietors, including aboutthe latest in Web design and got going20.7 million sole proprietors and 13.7again.million proprietors with wage-and“I got my first client in Septembersalary employees.2008, and it’s been going ever since,”But with the recession having begunshe said.in December 2007, those figures may nolonger be valid.No so, said Goss, who added that ecoGrowth at homeEven as the number of people unem- nomic stress often spurs opportunity.“Recessions traditionally produce anployed locally, statewide and across theincreasein proprietors as laid-off worknation continue to grow, home busiers opt for self-employment,” he said.nesses might offer untapped potential.Moreno and Anderson say they exAccording to The Enterprise Center atpect to get through the recession with aSalem State College in Massachusetts,combination of product and service.“self-employed proprietors and microMoreno, for example, is always on thebusiness employment may be growing.”Dr. Laurence E. Goss wrote “PropriTurn to HOME on Page 21For more information“Serving North Mississippi Since 1949”*RW%RRWV":25. %2276 :(67(51),567 48 /,7 /2:(67 35,&(6 ,1 72:1 Residential Commercial Industrialemail@bbconcrete.com6*' 5*1' 116 176.'6 % 6RXWK *ORVWHU 'HQWRQ 3OD]D 7XSHOR Journal Publishing-09130 N. Industrial Rd. Tupelo, MS 38802842-6312 Dispatch: 842-6313 Fax: 842-6327 DailyJournal-07B&B CONCRETECO., INC.Ostrich - Elephant - LizardAntelope - Deer - AlligatorSnake Skin & MORE! -XVWLQ 1RFRQD 7RQ\ /DPD 5RFN\ *HRUJLD 5HG :LQJ 'DQ 3RVW -RKQ 'HHUH /DUHGR 'XUDQJR DUOH\ 'DYLGVRQ )ORUVKHLP /XFFKHVH ULDW 0XFN %RRW :ROYHULQH &RUUDO /D &URVVH

PAGE 6BUSINESS JOURNALFRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009Business incubator gives entrepreneurs an edge The Northeast MississippiBusiness Incubation Systemhas offices in Corinth,Ripley and Iuka.By Dennis SeidBUSINESS JOURNALCORINTH – Ray McClellanhas seen plenty of graduationsin 12 years.As executive director of theNortheast Mississippi BusinessIncubation System, it’s his jobto help grow small businesses,and McClellan is as proud ofhis first graduate as his last.“Obviously, one of the besteconomic development toolsthat the region has is a business incubator,” said McClellan who joined NEMBIS in1997. “It helps small businessby sharing resources and costsand it gives them an opportunity to get on their feet.”NEMBIS has graduated 40businesses during McClellan’stenure, a number he hopes willkeep growing.Business incubators havespaces that tenants use for alimited time, typically two orthree years.At an incubator, would-bebusiness owners have access tophone, Internet, copier and faxservices and other officeequipment. Incubators alsooften host seminars and otherevents to help those entrepreneurs develop their businesses.“Incubators also are a greatsource of networking, whereyou make contacts that willhelp you down the road,” McClellan said.NEMBIS alumniThe 40 graduates of the Northeast Mississippi Business Incubation System include: Masterpiece Engineering Innovative Circuits Inc. Ringers Inc. Tecumseh Products Co. Solutions & Accounting LLC The Wright Solutions Global ConstructionFYI For more information about NEMBIS, call(662) 287-4369 or e-mail nembis@att.netNEMBIS got its start in 1993as a rural, mixed-use facilitywith 67,000 square feet ofspace. Owned by Alcorn County and the city of Corinth,NEMBIS has incubated 67small businesses with backgrounds in manufacturing,technology, construction,transportation, distributionand service.It also has satellite facilitiesin Ripley and Iuka.“Incubators provide anedge,” McClellan said. “There’san 80 percent success rate ofthe graduates from here since1993.”By comparison, studieshave shown that about 75 percent or more of startups failwithin their first two or threeyears.That’s probably welcomenews to the seven tenants currently in the Corinth facility.McClellan would like to seemore tenants, but staffing islimited. NEMBIS has three fulltime employees, includingDouble EContinued from Page 4singer’s music heard. Dothat, and many more doorsopen.“What we do is put therecord to radio,” Edge said.“We distribute to nationwidecharting stations. We also dobookings for the artists.”Double E has many connections in Nashville, whichhas great appeal to buddingmusicians like Gordon.“I just released my thirdalbum, ‘Faith, Grace and Joy’and was looking for somebody to help with promotions,” he said.He met Perry Edge abouttwo years ago at an event inTennessee, and now is part ofa multi-artist compilationCD that also has Marty Haggard, the son of Merle Haggard; Jimmy Fortune, a former member of The StatlerBrothers; Gerald Smith, aplatinum-selling songwriter;O’Liviajade Frizzell, AllenFrizzell’s daughter who is releasing her first single andKurt Labouve, a blind evangelist, singer, songwriter andpiano player.Edge said Allen Frizzell’ssuccess has led other musicians to Double E’s doors –even if they don’t knowwhere Booneville is.“I just tell them we’re 28himself, so they’re spread a little thin.“We’re certainly grateful forall we have and what we’reable to accomplish, but wecould always use more,” hesaid with a smile.NEMBIS is funded by publicand private funds, mostlythrough grants. Leases andother fees also are a source offunding.With the current recessionhaving started 18 months ago,McClellan has seen an increasein entrepreneurial activity andthinks business incubators likeNEMBIS have an importantrole to play.“In difficult economic times,there can be greater opportunity,” he said. “And we think wecan help some of those dreamsbecome reality.”miles north of Tupelo,” Edgesaid with a laugh. “Everybodyknows Tupelo because ofElvis.”Smith didn’t have anyproblems finding out whereBooneville was. Smith, a former member of Hee Haw,said he had considered promoters in Nashville, but aftermeeting Edge decided to gowith Double E.“I had been to Tupelo andMuscle Shoals, but never toBooneville – but I knowwhere it is now,” he said witha smile.“After talking to Perry, Ithought he could so thingsfor us that others couldn’t,and I thought it was a goodopportunity to work withhim.”Double E also has a publishing business that complements the music promotionside of the company.“We can do anything youwant us to do, and it’s allright here in Booneville,” saidEdge.Gordon hopes that linkingwith Double E will give himthe boost he’s looking for.“This is a great opportunityfor me – it’s not just for fun,”he said.Take it from Allen Frizzell:“I have worked with DoubleE Promotions for almost twoyears. It’s a Christian company that puts 110 percent intoeverything that they do. It’s acompany with integrity.”

PAGE 8BUSINESS JOURNALFRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009U.S. manufacturing requires radical changesmined that manufacturers ofall sizes in all industries facemounting challenges on thehe speed with whichability to attract and keepthe economic worldskilled labor; intense, and somechanged in the lastwould say unfair, competitionquarter of 2008 wasfrom low-cost countries; risingboth terrifying and awesome.health care costs that show noCapitalism as we know itsign of slowdown and environseems to no longer exist.mental compliance and otherBusiness leaders now faceregulatory demands.economic conditions unlikeSo, does manufacturing inanything most could have everthe U.S. have a future? The animagined.Who could have foreseen the swer is yes, it does.But it will require radical,day when the U.S. governmentwould nationalize a significant fundamental and structuralportion of the financial indus- changes in the current manutry? When the CEOs of GM,facturing business models. It isChrysler and Ford – tin cups in imperative that business leadhand – would beg Congressers not become paralyzed byfor billions and billions of dol- the difficult conditions thatlars? When financial giantshave been exacerbated by thesuch as Lehman Bros. wouldglobal credit and economic cridisappear and Citigroup would sis that is the current businessteeter on the brink? When peo- environment.ple with excellent credit histoInstead of being lost in a fog,ries could not borrow money?business must act.The immediate future of U.S.In particular, manufacturersmanufacturing is especiallyfrom this point on must stresschallenging. The “Future offlexibility, awareness and reManufacturing,” a study consilience. Those with long or inducted by IndustryWeek andflexible production cycles orCrowe Horwath in 2008, deter- very long-term investment re-Mississippi State UniversityTquirementswill find itespeciallydifficult tomanagetheir funding.Thosemanagers –or leaders,really – whopossess theability andwillingnessto becomemore flexible, responsive andresilient are likely to be theones who survive and thrive intoday’s interconnected globaleconomy.Here are methods manufacturers can use in developing theflexibility and responsiveness tobecome operationally excellentand market-responsive:StephenTAYLORConcentrate onrapid replenishment.“Smart” supply chains are anabsolute necessity. This meansmanufacturers need an information partnership with suppliers and customers. This ismanufacturers must have thesystems and technology that provide deep insight into how quickMeet the raised barly their markets are changing.of expectations.Information-gathering nowCustomers – whether theymust occur throughout the orare consumers or industrial –ganization, and plans must behave worldwide options.made and adjusted on thisHence, they demand top quali- newly-gained knowledge.ty service in all parts of theImplement flexible,transaction. With so manyavailable options, today’s custimely processes.tomer will not hang aroundIn addition to planning flexwaiting for a supplier to fix itsibility and understanding theproblems.market, today’s manufacturermust have the capability toFocus on planning agility.quickly revamp, refocus andFor most U.S. manufacturers, production runs of 700,000 redo business and manufacitems are things of the past. In- turing processes on an on-destead, manufacturers must bemand basis. This greatly inable to retool, rework and redo creases the importance of inproduction capabilities withformation technology.minimal notice. This will, howDevelop better bidever, require advance planning. The ability to changeor service costing.plans is likely to become theMargins are tight, and likelycornerstone of manufacturing to get tighter. Moreover, everycapability.company (at least those with afuture) is becoming dogmaticHave deep insighton cost management. Thisinto the market.means bidding for jobs mustTraditional market researchbe done with the same preciwill no longer suffice. Instead,sion as manufacturing.essential in order to meet verytight delivery expectations.

BUSINESS JOURNALFRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009BootsContinued from Page 4come in and see and say, ‘Oh,it’s packed.’”Much of the merchandise isspecial-ordered for customers.Custom orders include specific boots in a special color andsize to a custom-designedheel, toe and color.Spears said her bread-andbutter customers are people inneed of safety-toe work boots.She also has a large amount ofhorse-riding customers andHarley-riding customers.“Some men don’t even ridehorses but they wear bootsyear-round,” she said laughing.Spears and her husbandused to show horses, but shesaid now they just ride themfor fun. She’s had horses for 40years.Go beyond the big storesDespite the soft market nationally for apparel, Spearssaid she posted a good yearlast year and is doing fine thisyear. She attributed her salesfor the necessity of work bootsand for her store’s customerservice.“A lot of customers havebeen coming in for years,” shesaid. “They’re like personalfriends.”Spears said she and hermanager, Kelly James, try to goabove and beyond to winbusiness. They measure feetand help customers find theright fit.It’s not unusual for Spearsand James to spend an hourwith a customer. Spears saidthey also stand by their products, refunding or exchangingif there is a problem with themerchandise.“We do whatever they wantwithin reason,” Spears said.“We just try to go beyond whatthe big stores do.”Spears said she’s learned alot from when she first startedthe business, including howmuch time it takes to run herown small business, even withthe help of James, who hasbeen the manager for morethan 10 years.“It is more work than twopeople can handle,” Spearssaid. “I tell her you have to dothe work of three people and Ido too . We close at 6 but a lotof nights I leave at 9.”2633 Traceland Dr. Tupelo, MS 38801Construction Ph: 662-841-1154 Realty Ph: 662-841-15571109 Van Buren Oxford, MS (Realty) Oxford Ph: 662-234-3774American Furniture - 530,000 SFEcru, MSThe Hunter Group specializes in design-build projects including retail, religious, commercial, industrial, residential remodeling and new home construction. We are your full service general contractor andreal estate firm. Our realty company area of expertise is commercial, industrial, recreational, huntingproperty and new homes. We are licensed brokers inMississippi, Alabama & Texas and employ onenative Texan agent ranch specialist. Our new officeis open in Oxford. Please call to make an appointment for your next construction project or to discussyour real estate needsJames Hunter, Sr. 662-871-8658Construction Realty Broker, Tupelo & Oxford, MSRiley Hunter 662-871-8659Construction Realty Sales Agent, Tupelo & Oxford, MSMichael Greer, Jr 662-231-5392Realty Sales Agent, Tupelo & Oxford, MSMary Carpenter 662-816-1973Realty Sales Agent, Oxford, MSNathan Palmer 662-231-9813Realty Sales Agent, Tupelo & Olive Branch, MSCarlock Toyota Tupelo, MSwww.hunter-group.org www.hunter-mississippi.com www.huntertexas.comWarehousing SolutionsDon’t Waste Production SpaceJournal 3rd Party Warehouse§ Receive§ Track§ ManagePAGE 9§ Warehouse§ ShipJust-In-Time Deliveries

A CDFChamber ConnectionA publication of Journal Publishing and the CDF Chamber Division – July 2009Community Development FoundationRetains TIP Strategies for ComprehensiveEconomic Development StrategyThe Community DevelopmentFoundation (CDF) has retained TIPStrategies, an Austin-based economic development consulting firm, tocreate a ten-year comprehensiveeconomic development strategy forthe Tupelo/Lee County Region.One of the primary goals of thestrategy is to speed Tupelo’s move toan advanced manufacturing andmore knowledge-based economy.The plan will take current trends intoaccount and weigh them againstlong-term infrastructure, workforce,business, and entrepreneurial needs.The resulting economic development plan will provide the CDF leadership with strategies to leverage Tupelo/Lee County’s strengths and opportunities to aid in this transition.“TIP Strategies is a leading economic development consulting firmthat can help communities createinnovative approaches to knowledge-driven economic development,” stated David Rumbarger,President and CEO of the Community Development Foundation. “Weanticipate that this unique collaboration between CDF and TIP Strategies will yield positive long-term results for Tupelo/Lee County.”The CDF has a long history of operating under a researched and deliberate plan. The original “TupeloPlan,” that began in the 1940’s, promoted economic developmentthrough industry attraction. Sincethis original plan, the CDF has developed five more plans. These strategicplanning efforts have successfully diversified the economy, improvedeconomic opportunities for thearea’s workers, and positioned Tupelo as a strong regional center.Under the direction of the immediately previous plan for Tupelo/LeeCounty, created in 1999, the CDFhas facilitated 220 corporate locations/expansions, totaling 11,138jobs and 1,071,121,832.00 in capitalinvestment, through 2008. This includes Toyota Motor Corporation’sselection of the community for itseighth North American assemblyplant and six automotive suppliershave located plants in the region.Furthermore, the CDF has been selected five times as one of the topten industrial development agenciesin the nation by Site Selection magazine, a leading trade magazine forindustrial consultants.The project entails an analysis andassessment of the latest economicreality, along with the identificationand exploration of new opportunities. The assessment will address demographics, economic base, work-force, education, business climateand infrastructure, and entrepreneurial activity. Additionally, theplan will highlight prospects for relocation or expansion to the region, including both existing and emergingindustries. The final strategy will outline specific actions the CDF cantake to foster a healthy and sustainable economy in Tupelo/Lee County.“It is a privilege to work with theCDF. As much as any economic development organization in the country, the CDF has consistently – andsuccessfully – anticipated trends andhas mobilized to meet them,” saysJon Roberts, managing director ofTIP Strategies. The final plan shouldbe ready by the first part of 2010.CDF is a nonprofit membershiporganization composed of civic,business, and professional leadersrepresenting the Tupelo/Lee Countyregion. The Foundation’s basic objective is to strengthen the regionthrough economic and communitydevelopment projects with emphasis on creating new and better jobs.The CDF’s job recruitment endeavors have resulted in Lee County becoming an economic hub for theState of Mississippi. To learn moreabout CDF, please visitwww.cdfms.org.TIP Strategies has helped ensureeconomic vitality for their nationwide client base since 1995. The firmuses a unique planning model thattransforms “Theory Into Practice” todeliver services including economicdevelopment, corporate, and entrepreneurial strategic planning. Tolearn more about TIP Strategies, goto www.tipstrategies.com.

BUSINESS JOURNALPAGE 12Chamber focusDear Friends:CDF’s chamber of commerce divisionis hosting a new business lunch seriesthat will feature a scrumptious boxedlunch and relevant business speaker. Ourfirst luncheon will be held August 5 inthe CDF boardroom, with featuredspeaker, Mr. John Lindsey of Lindsey &Associates, Phoenix, Arizona. Mr. Lindsey’s program will offer ways to deal withdifficult people in the workplace. Pleasesend in your registration early, as spaceis limited.Nominations are still being received forthe new Jim Ingram Community Leadership Institute (CLI) class. Nomineesshould possess leadership qualities, asdemonstrated by past and current activities, possess a degree of motivation toward service in the community, and berepresentative of distinct elements of thecommunity, i.e., geographic area, religious groups, small business, industry,etc. One hundred and fifty six have graduated from CLI to date. If you would liketo nominate someone, please call theCDF office.As you can see in thepages of the Chamber Connection, we have been busywith ribbon cuttingsthroughout the month ofJune. We would love to helpyour business celebrate agrand opening, remodel, orSMITH major milestone. This is justanother benefit of your CDFmembership, so please contact the CDFoffice if you are ready to celebrate with aribbon cutting.The summer heat is already upon us,but your chamber of commerce is offering many opportunities to get out of theheat and network with other chambermembers throughout the summer.Check out our calendar of events belowto take advantage of all that is going onat CDF.Vice President of Chamber ServicesCommunity Development Foundation’sBoard of Directors for 2009-2010CDF is governed by a 59-member Board of Directors. The Executive Committee is composedof the CDF Officers and eleven additional members of the Board. CDF’s goals and objectivesare accomplished through the efforts of mem

side the Renasant Center for IDEAs. Wiebe counsels startup small busi- . CORINTH (662) 696-2311 Serving Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah and Tishomingo counties . "I hope to see my insurance career a thing of the past and having a career in music," said Gordon, of Pontotoc.