Rebecca (Becky) Wilson is a beauty vet. She’s been in the cosmetology industry for over 16 years as a stylist, instructor, and, most recently, a hair loss specialist. However, her journey to find her niche and build her business, Riveting Wellness Cosmetic Solutions, was not easy.

Becky has always loved to work with clients, starting out as a nail tech, then becoming a stylist and, ultimately, a cosmetology instructor. Despite her love for her job, she felt she “needed more.” While Becky reckoned with the career decisions ahead of her, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

Rebecca returned to her hometown of Chicago and began to take in all new clientele because of the pandemic. Working with a new customer base, she found a recurring theme: that for many of her clients, the stress of the pandemic had exacerbated hair loss issues. 

Working with these clients was difficult, but Becky was up for the challenge. She wanted to help them regain their hair and confidence, but didn’t know where to begin. In Becky’s words: “I got frustrated with not having solutions for [my clients]. … So, I decided to take a few extra courses and become a certified hair loss specialist, pivoting my entire business after COVID.”

“I like to think that I am more invested in my clients’ complete well-being and health; I try to approach things from a holistic perspective,” Becky said. She went on: “I work with clients to address their particular needs, experimenting with ways to supplement their natural hair rather than pushing them towards full craneo-prosthetics (complete prosthetic hair replacements) and helping them address nutritional needs for hair growth. I want to help them heal from the inside out.”

Becky’s new niche has also led to changes in her business model and priorities. As a result, she connected with a Source BSO, the Chicago Urban League (CUL), to help her build her business and continue to pursue her newfound passion.

Most recently, Becky opened a private suite as “a stepping stone.” This was a priority for her business because it provides “the privacy I need to work with clients who are suffering with hair loss, while allowing me to save and build up toward a fully functioning facility where I can offer space for other hair stylists to work and train.” Now, with the continuous support of the Chicago Urban League and her advisor Diane McDonald, she is focusing on building her marketing and tech skills.

The Urban League's online courses–such as nextONE, a 9-month business accelerator designed to help Black-owned businesses in Chicago scale and grow–have helped Becky “take the next steps” with her business. “It made me feel like I can really do this,” she shared.

Not sure if business advising is for you? This what Becky had to say about it:

Interested in starting your journey to small business success? Connect with one of our expert advisors at no cost, today! Learn more and sign up here!

This July, we connected with local Chicago entrepreneur Tracey McGhee, founder of Ms. Jetsetter, a travel accessories company for busy women on the go. Read ahead to learn about Tracey’s journey opening her business and receiving support from the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council (CMSDC) to ensure its success!

What led you to start your business?

Travel has been a passion of mine for years. However, I experienced many of the challenges women face while trying to stay organized on the go.

I know how frustrating it is to spend hours unraveling tangled necklaces after a long trip. I also know how unorganized makeup and toiletries can make you feel when on the go. Unfortunately, the options for stylish, functional travel accessories were limited. That's what led to Ms. Jetsetter – a line of stylish and functional travel accessories for Jetsetters on the go.

What has been your experience working with a Cook County Small Business Source Business Support Organization? (View Tracey’s response in the video below!)

How has your business changed since working with the CMSDC?

My business has changed in a number ways since working with the CMSDC. For example, I applied for and received my first certification with their assistance. Since working with the agency, I’ve acquired new accounts that are helping to stabilize my business, and I’ve gained exposure to other business owners and made some lasting connections. I was also awarded the CMSDC Supplier of the Year Award, Class I in 2022!

What is the most important thing you have learned from participating in business advising?

I’ve learned so much from my business advisor, Anita Hagan. One of the most important things I learned from working with her is how to have a successful tradeshow. She gave me some of the best advice from the small things, like making sure my booth was immaculate and inviting, to how to be more assertive when attending shows. Her tips have gone a long way!

Would you recommend business advising to small business owners who have never worked with an advisor?

I would definitely recommend taking advantage of business advising services. Running a small business is demanding and there are so many balls to juggle. Sometimes you might miss one or two of those balls, but having an advisor that understands you and your business can help you catch those balls before they drop. I can’t imagine running my business without my advisors.

Thank you Tracey for allowing The Source to work with your small business!

Interested in starting your journey to small business success? Connect with one of our expert advisors at no cost, today! Learn more and sign up here!

Meet Louise Williams, owner of Beautiful Beginnings Daycare, an at-home daycare that’s been operating in the Chicagoland area for 10 years. A skilled caretaker who often goes above and beyond for her clients and their children, Louise offers 24-hour daycare, food for children facing food insecurity, transportation for parents who can’t afford it, and more. Inspired by years of work in the medical field, Louise’s dream is to not only support children but parents as well, fostering access to educational tools and resources that will allow them to build a better life for themselves and their families. Thanks to the support she has received from her Business Advisor through The Source, Louise’s dream has become a reality in the most spectacular ways. 

Louise wanted to provide the essential service of daycare to her community, but like many small business owners, she faced the many complexities that come with starting and managing a small business. Now, after two years of meeting and working with her advisor, Tulio Juarez of the Greater Southwest Development Corporation, she has been able to build a sound foundation for her business that will help her sustain–and soon expand–her business. According to Louise, “I have taken online classes to increase my business education and participated in free courses to gain important certifications for my business.” By effectively managing her daycare on the business front, she has been able to expand her capacity to include 10 additional children through her daycare services.

Louise’s rapidly growing business has inspired her to plan for further growth, with her and Tulio now discussing expanding her business to a standalone brick-and-mortar facility, where she can support a greater client base. Though it will not be an easy undertaking, Louise knows that Tulio has her back throughout this big change, as she shares: “[Tulio] and I have had a great relationship in terms of loyalty and respect. He keeps it upfront when it comes to strengthening my business. I trust him to help me and my business.”

The Source is proud to support small businesses such as Beautiful Beginnings Daycare, and cannot wait to see where Louise goes next in her small business journey.

Curious about what goes on during a business advising session? Check out the video below for a behind-the-scenes of an advising session between Tulio and Louise!

Ready to take the steps towards success for your small business? Take advantage of free business advising through the Source and develop a one-on-one relationship with an advisor from our network of trusted Business Support Organizations today, learn more here.

Eight years ago, Angel Emmanuel Diaz Alcantara launched his business, Frida Room, a restaurant showcasing the vibrant colors and traditional flavors of his hometown of Mexico City. In his words, the Chicago restaurant “uniquely showcases the flavors he grew up with,” with dishes inspired by recipes passed down to him from his grandmother. With Frida Room, Angel carefully curated each detail, even designing the restaurant’s interior himself, capturing the lively decor and culture of Mexico City. 

Frida Room is not Angel’s first entrepreneurial venture, however. “I have over 20 years of experience as a business owner, but never as a restaurateur,” he said. Despite his extensive experience, Angel shared with the Source that “running a business is not easy.” To overcome the challenges that come along with owning and operating a small business, Angel participated in business advising with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC), a Business Support Organization (BSO) partner with The Source. With IHCC, Angel found not only the technical support he needed but also a friend within his advisor, Uriel Mendez. Angel shares “I can call him whenever I need him, we have had a great relationship. He always lends me a hand and has been closely involved in the build-out of our new [Lincoln Park] location.”

Angel credits the success of his recently opened location in Lincoln Park to the work he has done with Uriel as his business advisor and IHCC. His online marketing, he claims, has been imperative to the initial stage of client acquisition for the new location. Angel has worked extensively with his advising team to develop his website and Google business profile, which he correlates with the heavy foot traffic they have been receiving on the weekends.

When Angel was asked if he would recommend working with an advisor, this is what he had to say:

Ready to take the steps towards success for your small business? Take advantage of free business advising through The Source and develop a one-on-one relationship with an advisor from our network of trusted Business Support Organizations today; learn more here.

*All quotes are directly translated from Spanish.

Meet Ari Krzyzek, CEO and Head of Strategy at Chykalophia (see-ka-lo-fia), a woman minority-owned web agency helping femtech direct-to-consumer (DTC) & women-led brands transform their website to unlock business opportunities. This month, we connected with Ari, a recent 2023 Source Grant Awardee, to chat about her business journey and the importance of marketing for small businesses. Read ahead to learn more about Ari and her advice for small business owners looking to level up their marketing strategies!

How did you become involved in femtech and marketing, and why are you passionate about it?

Ari: My journey into femtech and marketing began with a realization of the unique challenges and opportunities in women's health and wellness sectors. As the CEO and Head of Strategy at Chykalophia, my involvement deepened through projects that aimed to elevate women-led brands, especially in the B2B tech space and then into the FemTech space. The intersection of technology and female health resonated with me, highlighting the profound impact that thoughtful marketing and tech innovation can have on improving women's lives. My passion stems from my personal needs and challenges in the women's health space, as well as the potential to drive change and empower women through these industries. By leveraging technology and strategic marketing, we can address underserved health issues, break taboos, and foster a community of support and innovation.

If a small business owner came to you seeking marketing advice, with no prior marketing experience, where would you recommend they start? How would you best get them acquainted with marketing and tech strategies?

Ari: For someone new to marketing and tech, I would recommend starting with the fundamentals. Understanding the basics of marketing principles–such as the 4 Ps (Product/Service, Price, Place, Promotion)–and getting familiar with digital platforms and tools can provide a solid foundation. I would also advise them to:

1. Network: Joining communities and groups related to marketing and tech on platforms like LinkedIn or local meetups can offer invaluable insights and connections.
2. Practice: The best way to learn is by doing. They could start with personal projects or volunteer for nonprofits to get hands-on experience.
3. Stay Curious: Marketing and tech are ever-evolving fields. Keeping up with industry news and trends will help them stay relevant.
4. And, above all: 

Ari: For someone more experienced but struggling to see success, I would focus on a more analytical and tailored approach. This would involve:

1. Audit and Analysis: Begin with a comprehensive audit of your current marketing strategies, tools, and campaigns. This step is crucial for identifying both the strengths and weaknesses of your existing approach. Look at what elements are performing well and which ones are falling short of expectations. This analysis should cover everything from content and design to the channels used for distribution.
2. Conduct User Research: Integral to refining your target audience understanding is conducting detailed user research. This goes beyond basic demographics and seeks to uncover deeper insights into your audience's behaviors, preferences, and pain points. Utilizing surveys, user testing, and analytics can reveal why certain aspects of your marketing may not be resonating as expected. This research can inform how to adjust your strategies to better meet your audience's needs.
3. Refine Target Audience: With the insights gained from user research, ensure your marketing efforts are precisely tailored to your audience. This may involve segmenting your audience further or revising your value proposition to better align with their expectations and needs.
4. Innovate and Experiment: The digital marketing landscape is constantly evolving, necessitating a willingness to innovate and experiment. Test new strategies, platforms, and technologies that have the potential to more effectively engage your audience. This could mean exploring emerging social media channels, adopting new content formats, or leveraging cutting-edge tech like AI for personalized marketing.
5. Measure and Optimize: Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing activities. Use this data to make informed decisions, continually optimizing your approach for better results. This cycle of measurement and optimization is critical for turning insights into actionable strategies that drive success.

By focusing on these areas, experienced marketers can diagnose issues in their current strategies, uncover new opportunities for engagement, and ultimately, find the right mix of tactics and channels that lead to measurable success.

Is there anything you know now that you wish you knew when you started your business journey? Marketing or otherwise.

Ari: Looking back, one key insight I wish I had grasped earlier is the importance of building a strong network and community from the start. The value of having a supportive network of peers, mentors, and industry connections cannot be overstated. These relationships provide not just opportunities for growth and collaboration but also essential support and guidance through the challenges of entrepreneurship. On top of that, understanding the power of data-driven decision-making in marketing and business operations would have accelerated my success. Leveraging analytics for strategic planning and optimization is crucial for informed decision-making and achieving sustainable growth. Remember, just like what Peter Drucke said: “What gets measured gets done.”

Have you worked with any of The Source’s Business Support Organization partners? If so, could you share with us your experience?

Ari: Yes! I'm continuously working with the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to receive business support and consultation around my business needs/challenges. Additionally, I'm also able to contribute to helping other business owners and entrepreneurs through these partners by facilitating a workshop on branding, UX, and web marketing topics, as well as advising them on their business, branding, and/or marketing challenges as a consultant.

Is there anything additional you would like to share?

Ari: Drawing from the combined 25+ years of experience in the web space that my CTO and I share, we've identified a common set of challenges that most small business owners and entrepreneurs face with their website channels. It became clear to us that despite the critical role of digital presence in today's business landscape, many struggle to leverage their websites effectively to drive growth and engagement. This realization led us to author “Made to Sell: Creating Websites that Convert,” a guide aimed at demystifying the strategic underpinnings of successful branding, user experience (UX), and web design for entrepreneurs.

“Made to Sell” is more than just a book; it's a distillation of our extensive experience and the successful strategies we've implemented for a wide range of brands in the digital arena. Designed to be accessible for entrepreneurs at any stage of their journey, the book provides actionable insights, real-world examples, and practical tips that can be applied immediately to achieve measurable results. Our objective is to empower readers with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about their digital strategies, ensuring their businesses not only stand out in crowded markets but also deeply connect with their target audiences.

By focusing on the core principles of branding, UX, and web design, “Made to Sell” offers a strategic blueprint for entrepreneurs looking to build a website that effectively communicates their brand's value proposition and engages customers at every touchpoint. It's an indispensable resource for anyone aiming to elevate their business in the digital age and secure sustainable growth online.