Small Businesses Helping the Economy in a Big Way

Some people may underestimate the power of a barber shop or maybe an antique clothing store. But TV-2's Jeannette Reyes shows us how small businesses are helping the economy in a big way.
***********************Transcript****************************


NAT SOUND: Gospel music playing and a buzzer

Leader Walker has been cutting, trimming, and lining up his customers for the past five years.

Customers come from all around Kent, some to mingle and others to talk, but most come to get their cut by just him. Which may explain why he just hired his only employee this past January.



SOT: (REGGIE)

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM? WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH ME?

But at the end of the day Lee, as some his customers call him, is doing something he loves.

I ENJOYED IT WHEN I WAS SIXTEEN. I STARTED CUTTING AT SIXTEEN. I CUT MY JERRI CURLS OUT. AND THERE WAS NO BARBER SHOP AROUND SO I HAD TO CUT IT MYSELF. AND I NEVER STOPPED.

And making a profit from it by owning his own business. Lee is an entrepreneur, like many in Kent, who has transformed his passion into an enterprise.

This is something Denise Easterling, Director of the Center of Entrepreneurship, says her program is trying to teach student how to do.

SOT: (EASTERLING)



WERE GOING TO GIVE THESE STUDENTS AN EDUCATION THEY CAN USE. WALKING OUT OF HERE AND KNOWING HOW TO START A BUSINESS IS HUGE.

NAT SOUND: SPEAKER IN A CLASSROOM

Students can choose a less hands on approach and listen to local entrepreneurs talk about their experiences

Or the can create their own experience and start a business.

SOT: (BRIGGS)

AND EACH STUDENT GOES AHEAD AND COMES IN WITH AN IDEA, ACTUALLY STARTS A BUSINESS, RUNS IT, GROWS IT, WHICH WERE GETTING TO NOW. WERE GOING TO START TALKING ABOUT NOW ARE WE GOING TO EXIT IT, START IT, SHUT IT DOWN, KEEP IT FOREVER, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

STAND UP:

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR , THE VAST MAJORITY OF EMPLOYMENT ARE FROM ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRMS. FACT IS, DURING TIMES LIKE THESE ITS ENTREPRENEURS WHO HELP BOOST THE ECONOMY. ONE STUDENT IS PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN SOMETHING THAT CAN AFFECT CLEVELANDS ECONOMY.

Junior entrepreneurship major Austin Briggs started a campaign called Please Dont Leave 23 to try and keep world famous Cavalier player, Lebron James, in Cleveland.

SOT: (BRIGGS)

WELL WE GOTTA KEEP LEBRON JAMES IN CLEVELAND FIRST AND FOREMOST I MEAN HES SOMEBODY WHO, HES THE SECOND BIGGEST ICON AS FAR AS ATHLETICS IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD.

This unique business has landed him on numerous TV shows and newspapers. But of course not everyone has a good business idea.

SOT: (EASTERLING)

I HAD A STUDENT WHO WANTED TO DEVELOP SOME SORT OF SPACE SHUTTLE--ROCKET SHIP TYPE THING. AND SEND IT UP INTO ORBIT OFTEN. AND COLLECT ALL THE SPACE JUNK UP THERE, BRING IT BACK, SELL ALL THE SPACE JUNK BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO PUT IT UP THERE, IN TERMS OF THATS HOW HE WAS GOING TO RECOUP HIS MONEY.

In the past its times like these that have forced Americans to follow their passion. And as small as they may seem the people that will likely drive the economy will not be from large established companies but entrepreneurs.

FOR TV-2 NEWS, IM JEANNETTE REYES

ANCHOR TAG:

All majors are welcome to take an introduction to entrepreneurship class. If you are interested in enrolling, contact you adviser for fall class schedules.

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