Written by: Lindsey McClain, Chamber Intern

Kristin Wolfe shares two passions: owning a business and helping others get healthy. The former was accomplished in October of 2021, when she first opened the doors to the newly renovated space for Peak Nutrition–a health shop with products that taste deliciously like dessert. The latter has been accomplished every day since then–with her ability to share these beneficial drinks with the residents of Wayne County. Her products are made and approved by a company called HerbaLife Nutrition, a business that’s been thriving for over 42 years. The company has teams of 250+ staff scientists, many holding PHD’s, and 100+ doctors. One employee on their Nutrition Advisory Board, Lou Ignarro, even won the Nobel Prize in medicine. Kristin and her customers appreciate the care that goes into creating both safe and nutritionally balanced products. It’s really a wonder that such a wide selection of these sought after products are available right here in Wayne County.
 
Kristin first stumbled upon HerbaLife products after her daughter's wisdom teeth surgery. She couldn’t eat solid foods, and the shakes were recommended to help aid her recovery and boost her nutrition. When Kristin tried the shakes, she knew immediately how much she loved them and how much she wanted everyone to experience their benefits. It was Healthy Happys in Westfield that helped make this dream a reality, often mentoring Kristin and teaching her the continued processes of business ownership. Kristin said the hardest parts of her journey have been having a mentor so far away and trying to learn new marketing strategies on her own. She has made immense progress though, advertising Peak Nutrition on Facebook and Instagram and featuring weekly drinks, monthly specialty menus, and a number of weight loss challenges and groups.
 
Peak Nutrition has a number of products to choose from including protein bites, oatmeal, herbal teas, and even iced coffee. Some of her most popular items are energy bombs and protein shakes, which are more than just a sweet treat, but an entire meal wrapped into one thick and filling shake.They attract customers with flavors such as Jamaican’ Me Happy, Shark Bite, Peanut Butter Pie and Adventureful Girl Scout Cookie. Customers especially love their peanut butter banana and cookie dough varieties. Kristin swears by the products, particularly the nutritional shakes, which she says helped her to lose 15 pounds. She was ecstatic to find something that diminished her cravings and kept her full and satisfied for hours. She describes it as a “nutrient packed and healthy way to lose weight”. This is just part of the reason Kristin felt called to bring her products to Wayne County. She was also impressed by the incredible number of people who look towards these products to meet their athletic and fitness goals. The products are endorsed by Olympic athletes, weight loss specialists, and even consumed by the Notre Dame football team. With 24g of protein, 12 vitamins and minerals, and less than 300 calories, the shakes attract a wide range of customers with a number of health goals.
 
Kristin is most proud of accomplishing her dream of starting her own business, but she is rewarded everyday by the support she receives from Wayne County residents and regular customers. She hopes one day to open a second location and eventually make Peak Nutrition her full time job and retirement project. She says there’s nothing more unique than a “healthy smoothie shop that tastes like a cheat day.” Peak Nutrition offers products for every health goal, and it is supported by Kristin’s passion for her product offerings, the storefront, and her desire to help others lead healthier and happier lives.

US Chamber of Commerce

Job openings in March were more than 11.5 million. This is 205,000 more openings than in February and a record, dating back to 2000.

Why it matters: The worker shortage crisis is getting worse with employers struggling to fill open roles.

By the numbers:

• Job openings increased in retail trade (155,000) and in durable goods manufacturing (50,000). 
• Job openings decreased in transportation, warehousing, and utilities (69,000); state and local government education (43,000); and federal government (20,000).
• Workers remain confident about leaving their current positions and finding new ones. In March, 4.5 million people quit their jobs – an all-time high. The quits rate was 3.0%, which matches the all-time high. 
• Quits increased in professional and business services (88,000) and construction (69,000).

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Bottom line: Along with inflation, the ongoing worker shortage crisis is a big problem for the economy right now, which is why the Chamber launched the America Works initiative.

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—Curtis Dubay, Senior Economist, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Small businesses everywhere are being impacted by the interrelated challenges of rising inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the worker shortage crisis—but inflation is hitting small businesses especially hard.
Inflation is, by far, the top concern for small businesses this quarter, according to new data from the MetLife & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Special Report on Inflation and Supply Chain Shocks on Small Business. While these were key challenges cited last quarter, concerns around inflation and supply chains have intensified quickly.

Story by Lindsey McClain, Chamber Intern

Young professional Micheala Gardner has been working with animals all her life. From her first job at a pet boarding facility in high school to her time spent as a practicing vet technician, she has some experience behind her. Following in the footsteps of her parents, Michaela knew she wanted to own her own business. After just a few years of doing the books for her parents’ construction company, Michaela found the perfect property to make her dreams a reality. 7650 North, US-27, in Williamsburg is the location of Hank’s Pet Lodge, a unique and well-equipped pet boarding and grooming facility. She named her business after her first dog, a border collie named Hank. Throughout this whole process Michaela said her parents were her biggest support and often pushed her to achieve her goals. Since Hank’s opening in December of 2019, they have enjoyed immense success, with bookings often months out. However, this does not stop Michaela from continuing to improve her business and satisfy her customers.

It is hard to believe we have completely wrapped up another year, and two years since we began seeing the pandemic take shape and eventually reshape our lives.  The Chamber team has had their noses to the grindstone every day working to ensure you are supported with your immediate needs and have the tools for the next chapter.  This has included things like providing the latest details on grants and relief packages for your businesses, advocating nationally on the supply chain issues, and bringing the most relevant educational topics to help you navigate these unique times. 
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Now it is time to look forward to a new horizon.  What is in store for our Chamber members in 2022?  I can assure you it is going to be another full year with benefits to help you grow, and outlets to allow you to relax with fellow members and celebrate this great community we call home.  

Story by Chamber Intern Lindsey McClain

​Family owned and family operated Bismarck Donuts & Coffee is a local business that goes the extra mile for its patrons. They boast a 0 complaint customer record for their delicious dine-in and carry-out treats. The store, located at 1241 NW 5th St. in Richmond, is fragrant with the smell of cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolatey sweets made fresh every single day. Customers are delighted to find a variety of donuts and pastries lining their cases. With colorful fruity pebble donuts, gooey cinnamon rolls, jelly and cream filled sweets, and hearty breakfast options, Bismarck has a menu that satisfies and excites. The owners and staff take immense pride in their work and spend long hours night until morning handcrafting these tasty treats.

​Hiring for your small business can be daunting, but it's an important task to get right. This means a few things: You'll want to hire talented candidates of course, and as was emphasized in a recent piece by Built In, you should also hire people who fit the company culture you're trying to build. In the early going though, it's also particularly important that you're hiring for the right positions. You may have limited staffing capability while you're getting started, and allocating resources to key positions is vital.

Here, we’ll outline a few positions that you should prioritize to make sure your company is on the road to success.