Smaller towns also have better, low-cost options to try out pop-up retailing for product-based companies. Virtual staffing is a way to reduce overhead costs, have multiple team members completing projects simultaneously, and decrease the cost of bundled services. Often times there simply isn’t an expert with a specific skill set required to complete a project located in your small town. Compared to either big city solution, using a second or third bedroom in a small town to operate a business represents a fraction of the housing expense versus a big city.Ī third example is the use of virtual staffing in small towns. As one example, we have been able to double our warehousing space while reducing the cost to half of what we paid in New Orleans.Īnother example is the opportunity cost of operating a business out of a home versus in an office or house in an urban setting. We had assumed that we would be able to lower our monthly expenses, but we didn’t realize by how much and in so many functional areas of the business. If we told you that you could reduce your business’s operating costs by 50% or more, would you consider our suggestion? We have seen a dramatic decrease in operating costs by moving our headquarters and storage facility to Pass Christian. SeaTurtle Sports warehouse and shipping operation.
![seaturtle sports beach bocce ball set seaturtle sports beach bocce ball set](https://reviewed-com-res.cloudinary.com/image/fetch/s--LtHd5TTu--/b_white,c_limit,cs_srgb,f_auto,fl_progressive.strip_profile,g_center,q_auto,w_792/https://reviewed-production.s3.amazonaws.com/attachment/a6a8669da72c420d/bocce.jpg)
Keeping an eye on minimizing your operating costs from the outset will pay dividends as you grow your business and hopefully your profit margins as well.
![seaturtle sports beach bocce ball set seaturtle sports beach bocce ball set](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/1195d5cb-9b2a-44af-bc33-400ad0c1c1de_1.5817278cf79cf48c18cb3c697a9229a3.jpeg)
The point of these references is, that while achieving profitability may be elusive and challenging, even operating out of a small town, there is a huge market for small business products and services. In 2006, Visa USA reported that small businesses account for nearly 30% ($4.7 trillion) of commercial spending in the U.S. The problem in small businessĪ recent article appearing in a national business publication described a rapidly growing craft brewery approaching $5 million in sales with 35 employees, but barely breaking even and the owner still unable to quit his day job. Here, we’ve isolated what we found to be some of the distinct operating advantages that can be leveraged to grow your business in a small market.
![seaturtle sports beach bocce ball set seaturtle sports beach bocce ball set](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0249/1714/products/3_a6bb23f4-b6ca-402a-a6c2-f9882f1d31b6_1024x1024.jpg)
Our experiences in post-Katrina New Orleans prepared us to look past the perceived obstacles to see new opportunities. We knew the move would come with its challenges, but it has also provided our company with significant advantages and unexpected benefits. Pass Christian is a unique southern town, and much like New Orleans, remains fragile, still rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina leveled it in 2005. Over the course of the last two years, we relocated our headquarters and warehouse from New Orleans (already a second or third tier market) to the even smaller town of Pass Christian, Mississippi. In 2011, with the success of our first product, Beach Bocce Ball, we moved from a hobby to operating as a full time business. As its founders, we observed a lack of new ideas in the category and what we felt was an unhealthy shift away from traditional “offline” interaction among family and friends. Guest Post by SeaTurtle Sports Co-founder Allen Bell and Allison Goldman, Director of SeaTurtle SportsĪllen and Jeanne Bell launched SeaTurtle Sports in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2003 to design and manufacture premium beach and backyard games. One of the goals of SeaTurtle Sports was to get more people interacting and playing together in the real world “offline.” Photo used by permission.