Local Businesses Thriving
GREENWOOD (July 6)—Why a particular business succeeds is often a mystery, but a couple of local shops appear to have learned the secret. Two years after opening their doors, A Thousand Stories and Rosier's Garden Center are flourishing.
"There was a lot of trial and error at the outset, but we finally figured it out," said Liz Ohtani, who, together with Sandra Rivera, owns A Thousand Stories. "I manage the stock, and Sandra handles the public-facing part, including special events with authors."
Ms. Rivera added, "We make a fantastic team. But I think our strongest asset is our supportive neighborhood. People here love books and reading, and they visit us regularly. We also have an active social media presence, and that helps too."
Louie Rosier, owner of Rosier's Garden Center, agreed that getting a business up and running takes effort and patience.
Mr. Rosier, whose store specializes in native plants and flowers, admitted that his first year with the garden center was tough. He recalled, "It took a long time to turn a profit. Sometimes I considered shutting it all down and going back to my former job."
Despite the difficult start, Mr. Rosier persevered. Now that the business is doing well, he is exploring opening another store.
"I'd like to reach customers beyond the Greenwood area," he said. "I'm currently looking at Morganville to see if that would be the best location for a second store."