Entrepreneur, Erica Tevis finds Big Success in One-Stop Shop Wedding Website, Little Things Favors

In 2008, I moved into our current location at 137 Main Street in Sayreville, New Jersey; adding a boutique-like front showroom with our offices in the back to offer brides a unique shopping experience. Over the years I grew the business with minimal startup costs to a profitable company with revenues in excess of 2 million.

Best Success Story:

The most exciting moment was when Bobbi Thomas’ assistant from NBC’s The Today Show called our offices to feature our products on a segment called “Today’s Wedding Modern Love.”

Another exciting business moment is that several of my articles have been published in a book called “Planet Wedding” and I have been a featured vendor in the book, “How to Plan Your Wedding … and Enjoy It!: Experienced Wedding Professionals Share Their Secrets.”

Biggest Startup Challenge:

It was a challenge learning [how to manage] all of the numerous hats an entrepreneur has to wear. Not only did I have to educate myself on how to successfully get my business ranked in search engines through SEO, but I also needed to learn the intricacies of search engine marketing (SEM) while training employees, learning human resources, balancing administrative tasks and anything that would arise on a daily basis.

Entrepreneurs really need to be multi-faceted and be able to juggle a plethora of duties that span many different areas of business management including operations, marketing, advertising, etc,until you can hire the right employees that can help expand the company.

#1 Tip for Entrepreneurs:

While it is great to be your own boss, starting a business takes three things: drive, discipline and determination. You will have many late nights and long days, don’t expect the road to be easy.

Successful small business owners are persistent and understand that obstacles are only temporary barriers to success. You’ll need endurance to follow through with your business ideas and creativity to continually find the best ways to keep your business growing.

Learn that you can’t do everything on your own and be willing to hand over the reins of certain aspects of your business to employees you can trust or those that have the skills that you lack.

It’s okay not to know everything, but be willing to learn everything you can to help your business run efficiently, smoothly and profitably.

Never give up on your dream and if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again!

Connect with Erica on Twitter and Facebook.

Did you enjoy this article? If so, subscribe to YFS Magazine and never miss an update. Don’t forget to make our friendship official and join Young, Fabulous & Self-Employed entrepreneurs on Facebook.

Photo Credit: Erica Tevis