Next to New's manager, Martha Bryant, has
had an interesting career. She became a
pharmacist in the 70s then spent 35 years working in that field before
switching to fashion. When
she and her husband returned to Knoxville
after working in Alabama
for four years, she decided it was time for a change even though she knew it
was a risk. Acquainted with the owners of Next to New, she also knew a great
opportunity when they asked if she'd like to take over running this store near
West Town Mall which offers high-end, slightly used clothing...
Our first broadcast of Your Opportunity
Knox, Knoxville's
only talk radio show devoted exclusively to East Tennessee's
small business community and heard every Saturday from noon to 1
pm on WNOX, we described today's new workplace phenomenon as the
new "free-agent" economy. Unlike
the baby-boomers who were promised and sought the security of working for a
single employer for their entire working careers, today's workforce is quickly
adapting to a rapidly changing work environment where millions of would-be
employees are entertaining the nontraditional world of the self-employed...
As difficult as it may be to believe, the inspiration for this
article came after putting $72.19 of regular unleaded gasoline into Judy's
automobile. In the few minutes it took
to fill up, I began contemplating the tremendous impact that skyrocketing fuel
prices had imposed on each of us. While
some of us shrug our shoulders wishing we could once again pay less than a
dollar a gallon not uncommon to us a decade ago, we elect to fill up, perhaps
foregoing an evening out each week. There are others, we are led to believe, however,
that cannot simply forego any evening out that was likely never part of their
normal routines to begin with. Instead,
we are told they face much more difficult choices...
In sports, it's all about fundamentals.
And when it comes to golf, the swing is the basic element upon which great
rounds are built. But if your swing isn't quite all it could be, or if you're
looking for tips on improving any aspect of your golf game, you may want to
drive on over to GolfTec on Kingston Pike. This unique instruction center and
golf shop is offering proven solutions that are helping more and more
Knoxville-area golfers stay out of the rough and on the green. "We
have a 93-percent success rate when it comes to helping people play better
golf," says franchise owner Tripp Barnes. "Not one person has come in that
hasn't liked our system...
Since opening the doors of Elle Boutique in Turkey Creek in May 2007, owners Jennifer Douglas and Sarah Reid have received tremendous support from shoppers looking for unique, high-end brands of clothing and accessories not readily found at other Knoxville shops.
Elle Boutique’s quick success and rave reviews are due in part to Douglas and Reid’s hands-on approach to running their business. The pair of young entrepreneurs are friendly, helpful and they take the time to get to know their customers personally—something that is truly unique in today’s world. “The most important thing to us is how our customers feel when they shop with us,” said Douglas. “We want the atmosphere of our store to be friendly and comfortable. We love what we do here, and we want to share it with people and help them find things they may not be able to find elsewhere in Knoxville.”
Local entrepreneurs and husband and wife team Tom and Judy Irmen recently celebrated their twenty-third year as a self-employed couple.
Having first met as freshmen at the University of Wisconsin in 1968, Judy tells of how Tom frequently expressed his dreams of someday owning his own business.
business spotlight 
