Claire Broderick has been self-employed for over two decades, so the struggles and rewards of entrepreneurship are nothing new to her. But no amount of experience could have prepared her for the challenges she faced after opening a gift store that adjoined to her hair salon in Ypsilanti, Michigan in February 2020.
“I’ve lived in Ypsilanti for 17 years, and I love it. Before I had my own hair salon, I got a lot of satisfaction volunteering for events in the local business community here,” said Claire. “The community responded in kind when I expanded my retail space to include gifts. I was overwhelmed by the positive response, and I really felt like I was on to something.”
But a month later, the local business district shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Claire felt like her dreams had been dashed. To keep her businesses afloat, Claire got creative, coming up with promotions that leveraged her community connections, like a Valentine’s Day package that gave couples a night out while ensuring they maintained social distancing.
“I was thrilled to be able to put money back into the pockets of the local baker and other business owners,” added Claire.
However, as most entrepreneurs can attest, passion, resilience, and ingenuity will only get you so far. A serendipitous conversation with Brooke Ratliff, an Operation HOPE coach, reframed Claire’s thinking about how she could take her business to the next level.
“I was cutting Brooke’s hair in my salon, and we started chatting about our lives,” said Claire. “I was telling her about the ups and downs of my entrepreneurial journey and my goal of making the gift store a success.”
Brooke offered to help Claire with her business through Operation HOPE’s Small Business Development program, and Claire has never looked back.
“Before Brooke and Operation HOPE came into my life, it was trial and error as I tried to learn the ropes of running a business on my own,” said Claire. “But Brooke showed me I don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”
To start with, Claire enrolled in an online class to learn how to create a business plan and arranged regular meetings with Brooke to tackle other aspects of the business, including marketing and financing.
“Brooke is someone who always shows up,” Claire said. “Whether it’s meeting with fellow store owners to get a community event off the ground or making introductions to lenders, Brooke has held my hand every step of the way.”
Watching Claire grow and evolve as a businesswoman has been rewarding for Brooke, as well.
“My role as an Operation HOPE coach is to help entrepreneurs create a business that will stand the test of time,” said Brooke. “Claire has so much positive energy and enthusiasm, not just for her businesses but for her community. We’ve been able to take that passion and channel it into her businesses in a way that I think will bring her long-lasting success.”
Claire is optimistic that all the hard work will pay off. And it appears she’s not the only one: To build the brand—including developing the store’s website—Claire recently applied for and received a grant from the Spark East incubator and a $35,000 small business loan from Fifth Third Bank. And like Claire, these two organizations are not just interested in supporting her business, but the community that surrounds it.
It’s a win-win,” said Reginald Gilson, Financial Center Manager at Fifth Third Bank’s 14820 Gratiot branch in Detroit. “We’re thrilled to support local entrepreneurs who are doing great things in the community we all call home. We greatly value our partnership with Operation HOPE and we look to continue providing much needed resources to small businesses with the help of this great organization.”
As Claire looks back at how far she and her businesses have come, she’s grateful that her conversation with Brooke that fateful day turned to discussing the trials and tribulations of her businesses.
“I encourage all small business owners to work with Operation HOPE,” said Claire. “They have the expertise, resources and, just as important, caring, to help small businesses like mine reach that next level.”
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Connect with Claire: Instagram, Facebook or via her website.
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