Entrepreneurial Finance Interview
Interview of Will Peoples (The Peoples Properties)
By: Mackensie Jimison – ENT 650
Seeing successful wealthy people it appeared as if a lot of them got their wealth from property ownership. I also heard that 90% of millionaires created their wealth through investing in real estate.
Interview with Deidre Hopkins from The Mossy Squirrel
By: Mackensie Jimison
The Mossy Squirrel didn’t come into existence until after I had received several requests for my handmade, hand painted signs, banners, and tote bags, to name a few. I mainly created items for my own personal decorating. When I saw something in a store that I liked and figured I could easily recreate them myself at a faction of the cost. It wasn’t until a local craft store owner approached me before the holidays because she had an overflow of requests for Christmas gifts. Shortly after the New Year, I was approached by a local real estate agent who wanted to purchase personalized wooden signs from me for his new homeowners that purchased through him. I knew at this point that I would be a lot busier with my little side business and would need to create a name and brand for myself…so the beginning The Mossy Squirrel.
Interview with Faustine Wilson of
Survival Pride in Sylva, NC
SME Interview
By: Mackensie Jimison
Interview with Tom Sheppard of Sheppard’s Bear Den Antiques
I interviewed Tom Sheppard who owned Sheppard’s Bear Den Antiques in downtown Waynesville. I wanted to get a realistic perspective from someone who owned a small business in this area. Even though he owned a shop with good quality items, they were unable make end meet. He lost the business after 6 months of trying to sell it at the lowest possible rate. This is all due to the market in this area, because it is such a seasonal area it is hard to keep a business going through the winter months. What I have learned from Tom is that you need to create a business that is the something that will be able to sustain low income months. Something that everyone needs or wants. It definitely makes me feel more cautious and weary about starting my own business. That I would need to be prepared for such a setback. I hope you can learn something from my interview with Tom as well.
Interview Questions:
1. Tell me a little bit about how you started Sheppard’s Bear Den Antiques, sort of an overview?
