When people think about leaving a corporate job to start a business, they usually want three things: a plan that works, normal working hours, and room to grow.
Emily Staples found all three when she opened a FASTSIGNS franchise in Gilbert, Arizona. But she didn't just follow the company rulebook to find success. Instead, she got out from behind her desk and became a major part of her town.
By tying her business directly to her local community, Emily managed to grow her total sales by a whopping 350%. Here is how she did it.
Swapping the Corporate Tech World for Local Business
Before she became her own boss, Emily spent 19 years working as a product engineer for major tech companies like Intel. She earned an engineering degree from Purdue University and a master's degree in business, but by 2017, she was ready for something new.
Emily had always done graphic design and printing on the side for her church and friends. When she looked into buying a business, she wanted something familiar. She chose FASTSIGNS and opened her doors at the start of 2018.
Choosing the Right Business Model
Emily was very specific about what she wanted in a business. When researching different companies, she looked for a few simple rules:
- Normal Hours: She wanted a business that was only open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- No Restaurants: She knew she wanted to stay far away from the food industry, which has high costs and high stress.
- Good Training: She needed a parent company that offered plenty of corporate help and advice along the way.
To pay for the business, Emily used her own cash savings and borrowed money from her 401(k) retirement account.
The Secret to Growth: Getting Involved
While the franchise company gave her the tools and the brand name, Emily knew she had to win over local customers herself. Right after opening, she joined the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce.
She didn't just join in name only; she showed up and worked hard.
In 2019, she was named the Chamber Volunteer of the Year. By 2020, she joined their board of directors, and today she is the chairperson for both the Gilbert and East Valley Chambers. She even goes on local TV news to talk about the benefits of small businesses working together.
All that networking paid off. Between her heavy community presence and moving into a bigger building in 2022, Emily's store sales skyrocketed by 350%.
Facing Hard Times and Moving Forward
As a Black female business owner hitting nearly ten years in business, Emily’s path wasn't always smooth. She had to learn how to manage employees, handle stressful first-year growing pains, and guide her young business right through the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her advice for anyone thinking about starting their own business is simple: "Hang in there. The first few years are tough... but finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel makes it worth it."
By using her corporate background to keep things organized and building strong relationships with her neighbors, Emily built a lot more than just a sign shop—she built a staple of her community.
Read the full interview here.
