Small Business Owners Standing Together From Six Feet

Did You Know Downtown Benches are Six Feet Wide?He is also on the executive team for thenation’s largest group of independentretailers (Southwest Buying Group) withmember stores ranging from Alaskato Florida to Maine and everywherein between, meeting quarterly with a“masterminds” group to stay on top ofbusiness trends and best practices. Onceper year the groups does a 3-day summitwhere one entity takes a turn hostingthe group in their home town. Last yearwas his turn to host. “The group LOVEDHolland! We hosted the event at HaworthInn and the group enjoyed a trolley tour,learning with retail guru Bob Negen, a tourand time with Mandi Brower and her teamat Quality Car Wash and more!”Matt HolmesMatt Holmes is also not one to shy awayfrom challenge. He opened Home &Company in 2005, with a retail focus ondécor and gifts. The recession in 2008 ledthem to expand the product offerings intofashion. His business resume includesfounding and then selling Tip Toes,launching the Jean Marie’s location onChicago Drive in 2015, adding a secondJean Marie’s location in Grand Haven in2017, and in January, liquidating Home &Company in the clock tower building witha plan to open a third Jean Marie’s locationin that space. That is, as soon as there’s alittle more clarity on how long things willbe disrupted.The COVID-19 challenges have takenMatt’s business even further into fashionwith the expedited launch of an onlineplatform. They put plans to launch theirnew www.jeanmaries.com site in tooverdrive and within five days were upand ready online. “I was incredibly proudof our team and seeing them rise to thischallenge! In just a couple of weeks wewent from basically doing nothing onlineto establishing a site that is off to a greatstart. In fact Shopify has us in the top 5%of all sites launched at the same time as wesaw over 10,000 unique visitors in the firsttwo weeks! Although it does not yet replaceour in-store sales we are making significantstrides and it is enabling us to maintainmore staff than we otherwise could have,”said Matt.CONNECT MAY 2020Matt Holmes of Jean Marie'sSomething that has been important to Mattsince launching his first business is to stayinvolved with local organizations in thecommunity. Over the years he has servedon the Farmer’s Market Advisory Boardand Girlfriends Weekend Committee,and currently serves on the Tulip Time,Holland CVB, and Principal ShoppingDistrict’s Board of Directors. This giveshim a well-rounded picture of the tourismand retail pulse of this community and hashelped him build a solid network.Building relationships is at the heart ofMatt considers when asked about successin business. He understands the valuein earning the trust of a customer thatmakes them a patron for life. “At the endof the day we want customers to trust usto do what’s right,” said Matt. A key datapoint that Matt and his team are doingsomething right is the growth of theirsemi-annual fashion show. In the threeyears since it began, the show has gonefrom a solitary 110 seat capacity show thefirst year, to most recently selling out threeshows of over 350 seats at each. Read about how collaboration ismaking a difference on page 65

Continued from page 5Feature: Small Business Owners Standing Together from Six Feet ApartThe Power of CommunityIt’s the energy and dedication to customersand community, and to staying ahead ofthe curve that positions these two businessowners to help guide the ecosystem ofother small businesses in our area throughtimes of unexpected turmoil. For them, likemany others, it has meant lots of onlinemeetings, phone calls, emails and more.Said Matt, “I am seeing it across the boardfrom our retail organizations to localleaders who are realizing that we will allbe better off working together. There isso much news, and with things changingas rapidly as they are it is helpful to beworking to process and respond together.I would say that there has been morebroad cooperation amongst differentorganizations/entities in the last severalweeks than I have seen in years. That isencouraging.”Boyd added, “From so many interactions,meetings, and groups nationwide that I’mprivileged to help and observe, I see silosbeing broken down like never before. It’sa feeling of “Us” everywhere I turn. Inthe business community, most everyonehas accepted and moved onto solving andhelping. People are unlocking their tangibleand intangible resources at lightning speedto help others. You can definitely sense thatwe are all in this boat together urgentlyrowing away from danger. Everyone needsan oar to paddle. If you don’t have an oar,all you need to do is ask a few people andyou’ll likely be handed an oar faster thanever before.6When asked what the future may looklike for this area as far as tourism andretail are concerned, both see adaptationand innovation as the keys to recovery.Boyd reflected, “Necessity is the motherof all invention. Humans need to celebrateand be social. How we accomplish thatwithout gathering in the near-term willbe the key. So, it will be fascinating tosee the opportunities bubble up and howcommerce will be able to invent andcapitalize on new ways to do business.Some ways will just be tweaks while otherthings will require more drastic steps.”(no matter how trivial), we will all getthrough this better. It doesn’t matter ifit’s family, friends, customers, vendors,etc. Help will come in many forms suchas advice, listening, money, informationsharing, networking, deferring payments,smiling, etc. It all counts. Opportunity tohelp is everywhere if you look outward.I’ve found this to be highly energizing andthey days are going by very quickly, too! Notime to worry. Just find ways to help.”Matt sees the resiliency of this communitycoming from the natural attractivenessof the area. “Certainly, there’s a hugedisruption in the short term we are seeingalready. That being said, once people feelsafe to travel, Holland is positioned torecover quickly. It was a blow to lose theTulip Time festival this year, but Hollandis beautiful year-round. We are fortunatealso that many of the reasons peoplecome here is for the beauty of the lakeshore and things we hope will be opensooner than later!”Staying focused and letting one successbuild upon the last is the way forwardfor Matt. This new challenge, though notinvited, energizes him to keep workingand evolving for the sake of business andthe community. Boyd adds the focusingon helping others will define how wecome out of this time. “If only everyonecould help 10 people a day in some wayCONNECT MAY 2020

EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR KRISTINE KAY INTERIORSKeeping it RealBy Kristine KayGeesh, have I been strugglingto write this article. Iwas feeling like now is not thetime that y’all can think aboutinterior design. I know I’ve beenfocusing more on the importantwork that must be done as abusiness owner, and less oncreativity.Truth be told, I was worriedthat you wouldn’t think interiordesign was a relevant topic.But then I received a messagefrom a previous client tellingme how grateful she was that wehad not only created a home forher that is a place of beauty, butof comfort and respite. And thenI received a second similar note.These have been moments ofbrightness in the past few weeks.Yes, our environment impactshow we feel.Yes, our environment impactsour productivity.Yes, we all get it now!Anyone who has had to makequick work of establishing ahome office surely understands.Function wins, but then wefind ourselves struggling to feelmotivated and to be productive.What if your space was bothfunctional and made you feelempowered to be your best?Now more than ever I amgrateful for the sense of serenityI feel when enveloped by myhome. Now more than ever Iappreciate my home office thatfills with natural light so I cangeek out over varying tones ofcolor. Those bursts of creativityspeak to my soul and keep bothmy spirits and my productivitylevels up.I totally understand. Now mightbe the time when you mustfocus on the basics, which maynot include funds for a refresh.But renewal and new beginningsare just around the corner. Let’stake some time to dream. Toplan how we will create a safeplace for families and friends togather. To invest in the spaceswhere work gets accomplishedas an investment in ourselves.All I needed to do wasremember my WHY. The answerhas always been the same. I amfull-on passionate about creatinga home for your family. Thatcreativity comes from the heart,and anything that is shared fromthe heart is given as a gift. Askany designer and I bet you’ll getthe same response.So let’s do this. Let’s make yourhome a place of solace for youand your family. Let’s make yourhome office a motivating placeto work so you can be your best.Need help? Don’t worry, we’vegot your back.Kristine Kay is the principal designer at Kristine Kay Interiors, afull-service Interior Design firm specializing in custom homes andcommercial spaces. We’d love to be a part of the team that helpsyour business soar. Check us out at www.kristinekayinteriors.comand give us a shout at 616-460 -1564.CONNECT MAY 20207

CARE OTTAWA COUNTYCare Ottawa County CoordinatesExtraordinary Community ResponseBy Chelsea Scottt was the night of March 12 and PatrickICommunityCisler (Lakeshore Nonprofit Alliance andSPOKE Executive Director)And things moved. Fast. “Between my7:30am phone call with Mike Goorhouseand our 2pm meeting on March 13th, Mikecouldn’t sleep. “I laid awake after hearing that had already purchased a domain nameMichigan would be closing its schools,” he(careottawacounty.com) and had an initialsaid. “I began thinking about what the spread website layout,” Patrick explained. “Thisof this virus would mean from a humanquick action on his part allowed us to getservices perspective in our community.”the website live early on March 14th. I haveto imagine that we were one of the firstThe next morning, Patrick called MikeGoorhouse (Community Foundation of the communities in Michigan to have somethingsimilar.”Holland/Zeeland Area President/CEO) tosee how he was processing and how he andhis organization were going to get involved.“I called a meeting that same day withroughly 25 key leaders in our communityto discuss how we might collaborativelyaddress the anticipated human serviceneeds that would most certainly occur,”Patrick said. “Anytime there is a crisis of thismagnitude there are predictable needs thatwill begin to increase in a community (foodand basic needs, housing/utilities, mentalhealth).” Among the organizations at thatCareottawacounty.com is a consolidatedfirst meeting were Community Foundation resource for Ottawa County residents thatof the Holland/Zeeland Area (CFHZ),gives clear, simple guidance for those lookingGrand Haven Area Community Foundation, to help in response to the COVID-19the United Way, the Intermediate Schoolcrises. In the first month the site was live, itDistrict, Public Health, The Michigan West received 30,000 visitors and approximatelyCoast Chamber of Commerce, Lakeshore250 volunteers signed up! “Beyond beingAdvantage, Community Mental Health,a hub of information and resources,Good Samaritan Ministries, Communitycareottawacounty.com is an access point forAction House, Evergreen Commons, Love in financial contributions to the EmergencyAction and others.Human Needs Fund,” Mike said. “Thesefunds were implemented with seed moneyThe goal was two-fold: prepare safety-netfrom CFHZ and GHACF Endowments andorganizations to respond to the increase inhuman service needs and create ways for the a contribution from Greater Ottawa Co.community to get involved to help with the United Way. Grant money from the fund isdeployed in real-time to the hardworkingrelief effort.human service organizations that arekeeping vulnerable populations housed, fed,and healthy. Donations from the communityto this fund are approaching 600,000. Sofar, over 450,000 in grant funding has beendistributed with a focus on food, housing,mental health, and basic needs.”Care Ottawa County embodies everythingwe want and hope a community can bein times of crisis; the coordination ofresources, talent, funds has been masterful.“In moments like this we know that weneed to step up and respond if there is aneed and we have the resources,” Mikesaid. “I have access to phenomenal writing,web and graphic design talent so we couldjump on making the website and managingthe Facebook page quickly. So we did.The United Way’s volunteer center was inplace and so they stepped up to managethe volunteer side of things. Grand HavenArea Community Foundation stepped upand coordinated all of the grantmakingprocesses for the Emergency Human NeedsFund. Community SPOKE stepped up andconvened and coordinated it all. It is workingwith these partners that inspired us to stepup and do everything we can to be a partof this community-wide response.” Patrickechoed how critically important each playerhas been in the effort and then added, “Buta heap of praise must go to our front-linehealth and human service agencies. Most ofthem are working around the clock to keeppeople fed, housed, and healthy. When all issaid and done it will primarily be the workthat they have done that I believe will makethe biggest difference.”Visit Careottawacounty.com for how you can help, including:Volunteering in the community1. Sign up to be a vetted United Way volunteer to assist with grocery shopping forisolated seniors2. Donate blood via one of the blood drive locations listed on the websiteVolunteering from home1. Pack a family food box for Community Action House or lunch packs forHand2Hand Ministries2. Sew homemade masks and gowns for area medical facilities and area nonprofitsDonate financially to the Emergency Human Needs Fund or by giving goodsdirectly to nonprofits providing food and household goods.8CONNECT MAY 2020

One volunteer from home opportunity thathas been widely embraced by the community is the #StayHomeFightHunger campaign, started by Community Action House.Following a set of packing and deliveryinstructions found under the “Volunteer atHome” section of careottawacounty.com,families pack boxes with high-need itemslike pasta noodles and sauce, cans of meat,canned vegetables and fruit, paper towels,and soap. They can then decorate the boxand add a caring note from their family.When the box is dropped off at CAH, theirstaff will add fresh fruit and veggies, dairyproducts, bread, and meat. One box canfeed two people for seven days. The needis high but our community is stepping upin big ways. Shoreline Container donated4,000 of the perfect size boxes and morethan 250 family food boxes were packed anddelivered in the first week!When individuals drop off their box, theycan use the tag #StayHomeFightHunger ontheir social media post (photo or video) toleverage an additional financial donation toCAH. Four generous local companies andone family: Holland Doctors of Audiology,Lakewood Construction, PeopleIT and TheCONNECT MAY 2020Insurance Group - Stacy Segrist-Kamphuisjoined the Mike and Rachel Goorhousefamily in a pledge to donate for each boxdelivered. Through this commitment, eachbox generates a 45 donation! Over 475boxes have been packed and donated as ofApril 9!from this crisis quicker and stronger if wehelp each other out during this time.”Visit careottawacounty.com for moreinformation and how you can getinvolved.“The Chamber has been an incredibleresource, connecting us with companieslooking for ways to help and sharinginformation about careottawacounty.com,”Mike shared. “They have participated inthe daily coalition calls since the very firstmeeting and provided a key link betweenthe human service response and thebusiness response to this crisis. They’ve alsohelped promote the community response byparticipating in the #StayHomeFightHungercampaign! They were the FIRST box packedand delivered!”Both Patrick and Mike firmly believethe key to successfully navigating theseuncertain times is by combining the effortsof friends, family, neighbors, nonprofits, andbusinesses. “I am incredibly proud of howwe do collaboration in Ottawa County andrefer to it often as the ‘Ottawa way,’” Patricksaid. “Our community will bounce back9

EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR FARM BUREAU INSURANCE2019 Directors AwardBy Mac Brantleyhen it was announcedWduring this year’sConvention that Andy Spearswould be receiving the Directors’Award, perhaps the onlyperson who was surprised wasAndy himself. As he acceptedthe award, the hardworkingagent, whose agency is inHolland, was appreciative andcharacteristically modest.during his five years as anagent We are even moreproud of the man that he is—afamily man, a man of faith, andsomeone who tirelessly givesback to his community.”and remained very interested intracking his progress, excitedlyasking him every day, “Howmany life insurance policies didyou sell today, Dad?”Andy also took time to thankseveral long-time friends atSpears acceptance remarks were Farm Bureau—some of whomhe grew up with. “I also want tofilled with gratitude.thank Kaleb Klotz who I have“I’d like to thank God forknown since grade school, forproviding his favor and grace in“I am humbled and honored.your friendship. We talk dailymy life. There’s no way I couldWinning this award is the highencouraging and pushing onehave a successful agency without another”. Also Michigan Farmlight of my career so far. I havethe best team, family, friends and Him at the center of it.”Bureau Board Member Mikeclients who all made this possiDeRuiter. “I want to thankHe thanked his office team—ble. This is a day that I will never Allison, Shenoa, Kim andMike for being a good friend, aforget for the rest of my life.”mentor, and I think it’s so greatLorie—for all they do to serveThe Directors’ Award recognizes their clients with excellence every that after all these years thatday and for supporting him atwe all get to work as part of thea top agent, with the companythe agency.same company.”five years or less, who displaysleadership, achieves strongHe thanked his managingproduction, commits to a sound partners, and his directors forbusiness plan, actively engages in their leadership and friendshiptheir community, creates effective “that extends beyond insurance,”marketing opportunities, andhis fellow nominees, and pastsuccessfully manages their oper- winners of the award.ation. In addition to production,the award recognizes habits that “It’s an honor to be forever in thewill lead to a successful career as club of this prestigious award andbe able to help welcome in thea Farm Bureau Insurance agent.winners in the years to come!”Spears clearly deserved theaward. In 2019, Andy was an All Andy also took a moment tosingle out his father-in-lawAmerican, part of the Life EliteCal Timmer, himself a FarmClub, and earned a Blue RibbonBureau agent for 42 years, for hisOffice of Excellence Award. Hementorship and getting him intohas been on the Executive Club,the business.and Presidents Council in 2017.He’s been active in the localOften wiping away tears, AndyChamber, ACES Day, Americareserved his most tender remarksand Me Essay Contest, and thefor his wife and children.Agent Charitable Fund. Andy“My wife Jenna has been myalso sponsors a host of localrock. At times, my psychiatrist,sporting events—including golfand partner through life offeringoutings, a local youth softballme unconditional love andteam, and

fashion. His business resume includes founding and then selling Tip Toes, launching the Jean Marie’s location on Chicago Drive in 2015, adding a second Jean Marie’s location in Grand Haven in 2017, and in January, liquidating Home & Company in the clock tower building with a