Small Businesses Are Fueling Florida’s Big Resurgence

June 16, 2021 – Sarasota

There’s a certain joy that’s present in every economic recovery but is particularly evident today in the nation’s post-pandemic recovery period.  

The public’s mood is lighter and smiles are more evident, and there’s something more palatable bubbling up from under the surface: Optimism.

And that’s a powerful thing, according to Bradenton resident Rachael Quinn, who founded the first of what is now a national Your CBD Store franchise chain in Manatee County and, soon, will celebrate the opening of yet another.

She saw the county as a great place to do business when she first opened her health- and wellness-centered Your CBD Store location in 2018 and sees it as an even better place to do business today in its post-pandemic resurgence.

Quinn, a millennial mom and serial entrepreneur, is particularly bullish about Manatee County’s small-business economy, which she says bursts with potential.

“If you are looking for a rapid recovery Florida, and most particularly, Manatee County is a great place to be,” says Quinn, who recently opened Your CBD Store – Cortez on 6676 Cortez Road.

The store marks her fourth new business opening and, quite possibly, may grow to be her largest and most profitable venture among her other Florida-based locations in Bradenton, Cape Coral and Fort Myers, she says.

Opening a new business in the earliest days of our nation’s recovery?

“Yes, absolutely,” says Quinn. “Manatee County’s business owners are tough and resilient. You are going to see even more businesses opening here in the future. This area is booming.”

Coupled with a business community is tight-knit and supportive of entrepreneurial growth and development, the county is well-seated for new business starts and expansion efforts, according to Quinn, who says small-business opportunities abound throughout Florida.

Why?   

Despite the many challenges of the pandemic, small businesses stuck it out and rode its economic tsunami together, according to Quinn, who notes a supportive business environment means “everything” to entrepreneurs.

“It’s a critical ‘X’ factor,” says Quinn, who will employ five local residents with opening of her Cortez Road location. 

Many see their employment as a springboard, according to Quinn, who has helped train and mentor countless individuals from entry level positions to management posts. Some have even become Your CBD franchise owners.

“The opportunities are endless,” according to Quinn, who says employment in a high-growth company, operating in an area experiencing growth and in a growth sector such as CBD is like hitting the trifecta for success.  

It’s small business starts like Quinn’s that drive Florida’s $1.2 trillion economy.

More than 60 percent of Florida’s net new jobs since 2012 are created by companies with fewer than 100 employees, according to The Florida Scorecard, published by the Florida Chamber. 

Thanks to investments like Quinn’s, that number is growing and contributing to lift Florida’s ranking among top small business climates. Currently, the state is ranked No. 3 among top incubators of small businesses in the United States.

More than 88% of all small businesses in Florida employ less than 20 people, according to the SBDC of Florida.

Small business owners like Rachael Quinn are helping Florida’s economy come back stronger and more quickly than other states.

The SBDC Network reports that small businesses are responsible for 50% of Florida’s economy and 75% of its employment.

Florida is home to nearly 80 independently owned and operated Your CBD Stores, which are among the many small businesses hiring today. 

Support is a part of Florida’s business DNA and its commitment is evident at many areas, particularly at the local level, according to Quinn.

“The Manatee Chamber provided a lifeline to area businesses like mine throughout the pandemic and beyond,” says Quinn. “They kept us connected to each other through Zoom calls and webinars and helped many of us navigate the dynamic landscape of shifting public health guidelines along the way.”

The support was representative of the Manatee Chamber’s “whatever it takes” approach, according to Chamber President and CEO Jacki Dezelski, who notes that thousands of phone calls, countless webinars and social media campaigns were created to help the organization’s 2,000 members meet ever-shifting pandemic-related safety requirements and access the complex “alphabet soup” of assistance programs.

All told, the Chamber hosted more than 30 webinars on topics from workplace wellness and best HR practices to how to pivot to an online marketplace and curbside pick-ups.

“The effort helped businesses like Quinn’s recover, reimagine and adapt,” says Dezelski, who has presided over more than 100 new business ribbon cuttings over the last 12 months. 

“Even more are scheduled in the coming months,” Dezelski adds. “Florida is seeing a significant influx of new residents, which translates to new small business opportunities. All of our indicators are pointing in a positive direction and are reflective what many are feeling: Bradenton’s on an upward trajectory.

“Your CBD Store Founder Rachael Quinn could have expanded anywhere, but she chose to expand here in Manatee County,” says Dezelski, who notes the move speaks to the county’s growth potential and something more — the support for locally owned and operated shops.

Now, more than ever, residents want to buy local.

More than 70% of consumers shop small, according to a 2021 survey by Mint.

“Rachael’s made more than an investment in Bradenton,” says Dezelski. “She’s supported the growth and aspirations of local residents, while helping build our local economy. 

“Through her efforts, stewardship and support of our Chairman’s Circle, Rachael’s helped foster and grow countless small business enterprises, expand employment opportunities and contribute to the outstanding live/work/play environment that Bradenton has come to be known for —  all while operating her own award-winning business ventures. People appreciate that.”

Bradenton was recognized by WalletHub as one of the top small cities in the U.S. to start a new business.

Coupled with its overall wellness-focused culture, the community’s concentration of health, medical and wellness-related ventures make it a natural home for businesses like Your CBD Store, which cater to consumers interested in maintaining active and healthy lifestyles, according to Dezelski.