Owner: Tracy Kruse Company: Noteworthy Occasions Address: 5205 W. 129th St. Leawood, KS 66209 Phone: (913) 685-1364 E-Mail: Web site:www.noteworthykc.com Type of Business: Stationery products for all occasions
The Business: Established in 1995, Noteworthy Occasions offers a full line of stationery products for every occasion, including personalized stationery, wedding invitations, party invitations, birth announcements, calling cards, business announcements, personal and corporate holiday cards, photo cards and gift stickers. We serve both individuals and businesses, and we are dedicated to helping each customer find the right product for every occasion and budget.
Main Challenge: As you cultivate a business, each stage has its own challenges. Many times you don't know what you don't know, so you have to be resourceful and rely on networking to solve many problems. The lack of a retail storefront requires creativity in selling your product. In today's world, that means having the capability to sell your product online. Even though I have been in business for 11 years, developing an online presence makes it feel like I am starting over from scratch.
Advice: Make sure that you have a passion for what you are doing. If you are starting the business for the money you anticipate making, you will incur a great deal of stress and frustration. If you love what you do, the money will follow and you will be more apt to stick it out for the long-term. What surprised me most was the power of customer referrals, which are especially important because of the lack of a storefront and the walk-in traffic it generates. I have always tried to help each customer find just the right thing, even if it's a less expensive product. It always amazes me when I get calls from as far away as New Jersey, and the customer mentions he is a friend, of a friend, of a friend. That makes providing exceptional customer service worth it.
