Eric Schwartzberg
Dayton Daily News, Ohio
WWR Article Summary (tl;dr) The new “Thrive incubator program” in Dayton is assisting budding entrepreneurs pursue their dreams of business ownership. The program also helps the entrepreneurs grow into successful community assets for years to come.
Dayton
The two newest tenants to a Dayton area retail pop-up incubator program say the space means the ability to pursue their dreams.
Silver Neon joined Thrive at Market Square, 4 N. Main St., Miamisburg, last month, offering unique, one of a kind statement pieces that are vintage and collected at estate sales, antique stores, flea markets, thrift stores and more.
“I just want people to be able to express themselves through clothing that is unique to them and not fast fashion,” said owner Rene Sabol, a Miamisburg resident and Sinclair Community College graduate.
Thrive at Market Square offers short-team leases of three months at a time in five tenant spaces available on the first floor of the historic building, which is owned by the city and located directly in the center of downtown.
Sabol said her path to such a venture was determined by the fact that she’s “always been a picker, somebody who collects clothes and sells them.” Losing her job last March because of the coronavirus pandemic pushed her to make her dream a reality.
“I had all this free time and was able to turn it into something long-term,” she said. “Having an actual store has just made me realize that it’s a lot of work, I guess, but I do enjoy it.”
Sabol said the Small Business Development Center is “super supportive” and provides a great deal of information and knowledge if she ever has any questions.
Also joining Thrive at Market Square is Planogol, a mobile website set of tools for self-evaluation, dream exploration and setting of SMART goals, according to founder Lee Autore. Planogol allows people to work through those goals with accountability partners and have resources and templates to help them along the way, Autore said.
The business got its start in the office of Autore’s other consulting business, Goal-Time.
“My Small Business Development Center adviser, Mark Lankford, learned about the Thrive opportunity and encouraged me to apply,” Autore said.
“Their program is an amazing incubator opportunity for both the retail pop-up businesses, as well as my own technology business.”
As the website is still in pre-production, Planogol has been working most of the year with Lankford to get an “idea / business plan” pitch together to seek funds for the development of the website, he said.
“At the end of January, we’ll be pitching to a group of Angel investors,” Autore said.
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“The pitch is being arranged by The Entrepreneurs Center in downtown Dayton. For those not aware, there are a lot of really talented folks in the Dayton area to help individuals with small businesses.”
The first tenant in the Thrive program, Hedy Riegle Studio Ltd., opened in November. It offers hand-stamped jewelry. The addition of two new tenants means there is only one retail space remaining, according to Katie Frank, Miamisburg’s community development director.
City officials are thrilled with the tenants who have taken “a leap of faith” for their business and in this program, Frank told this news outlet.
“This program truly seeks to give entrepreneurs a chance to live their dreams and grow into a successful community asset,” she said. “We look forward to continued commitment of our tenants, as well as bringing in new ones over the months and years.”
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