Biz in a Boxx in the Top 100 and in the Top 10 of the “Recession Busters and Most Innovative” Categories
Congratulations to Biz in a Boxx, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, for being named in the Top 100 for 2014 Home-Based 100 Business Winners and in the Top 10 of the Recession Busters and Most Innovative Categories. We caught up with business owner and entrepreneur Melissa Rose and asked her to answer some questions and share some words of advice and inspiration with our StartupNation audience.
Tell Us About Your Journey
StartupNation: What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Melissa: I love the ability to take risks and not be bogged down with protocol. I can create anything I dream of without someone telling me I cannot do it. It’s a great sense of freedom. I own what I create and that’s very empowering.
StartupNation: To what do you attribute your success as an entrepreneur and business owner?
Melissa: Persistence. Being an entrepreneur is about finding solutions. When obstacles occur, the challenge is to solve the problem. Good problem solvers see these challenges as exciting and rewarding because there’s always something to learn and something to fix or improve.
StartupNation: What ignited the spark in you to start/select your particular business as an entrepreneur?
Melissa: I started Biz in a Boxx because I wanted to teach my daughter entrepreneurship. I don’t know what she will eventually do professionally throughout her adult life, but I can instill valuable skills and knowledge so that she has choices. Teaching her entrepreneurship early will not only provide opportunities, but long-term practice will help her turn dreams into realities without being risk adverse. And as much as I wanted her to have a happy childhood, I also want her to have a happy and productive adulthood.
StartupNation: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
- Patience
- Persistence
- The ability and eagerness to sometimes throw out ideas and see what sticks.
Words of Wisdom – Inspiration for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
StartupNation: If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?
Melissa: It’s a long journey and one that can change your course along the way. Know how to spot growth opportunities and take advantage of them. Just because your original business intent pointed you one way doesn’t mean other unexpected opportunities cannot take you to your end goal as well.
Inspiration
StartupNation: Where do you find your greatest inspiration?
Melissa: People inspire me. I teach an entrepreneurship class to kids and they inspire when I see their “aha” moments. Those who understand what it is I do who become my cheerleaders are also very inspirational.
StartupNation: What is your favorite motivational/business quote as an entrepreneur?
Melissa: “If you are not willing to risk the usual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn
StartupNation: A motto you live by?
Melissa: “Just do it!”
Tell Us About Your Business, Experiences, & Funding Your Startup
StartupNation: How did you get funding for your startup?
Melissa: My original funding came from my mom. She always encouraged me and my sister to take chances. She’s a huge supporter of our ideas.
StartupNation: Recommendations for others starting out?
Melissa: Having grandiose ideas for your business at first is a great plan, but take things one step at a time. Budget well. If your plan is solid you’ll be able to use the profits to grow.
Marketing and Building Their Customer Base
StartupNation: How do you market and build your customer base?
Melissa: We market both online and offline. We know our primary, secondary, and tertiary markets. Offline, we belong to industry-focused committees where we have opportunities to build relationships with key decision makers. It’s these relationships that provide us with the best word-of-mouth advertising. The value of face-to-face networking is still alive.
StartupNation: Recommendations for others starting out?
Melissa: Know your market. As you sell goods and/or services collect the data. We were way off on our anticipated target markets at first. After looking at our sales data we were able to pinpoint demographics and geographics of our top markets. With limited marketing dollars, we were able to focus those resources where we would gain the greatest return.
Changes in the Business Market
StartupNation: What changes have you seen in your business market since starting?
Melissa: Entrepreneurship wasn’t a big buzzword when we started, especially in the educational sector. It was all about STEM and churning kids into employees. Then all of a sudden startup incubators began to emerge, not just in local communities, but into the universities. The country was finally getting back to its entrepreneurial roots.
StartupNation: What do you see coming that will impact your business?
Melissa: We are beginning to see entrepreneurship trickle down to the high school level and we anticipate the buzz to continue to spread to the lower educational levels.
Learn more about Melissa’s business and view other businesses that entered and placed in the competition by clicking here for the top ten and a full list 2014 Home-Based 100 Business Winners and entrants.
Do you have a startup? Are you a passionate entrepreneur with an idea that has taken off and want to share your success with others? Would you like your business to receive priceless exposure in the media and be positioned to take your business to the next level? Then join us this fall for the 8th Annual StartupNation Home-Based 100 Competition which ranks outstanding home-based businesses and the amazing people behind them! Watch for your change to enter! In the meantime, be sure to visit us daily for new content to support and grow your business!
