Community-Focused Franchisee Profile: Sharon Barhorst

Becoming a true member of your local community is key to building a loyal customer base. Getting to know the local residents and supporting neighborhood businesses allows franchisees to establish long-term relationships with their customers.

Sharon Barhorst, a Welcomemat Services franchisee, attributes her success to her commitment to giving back to her local community. She believes that if all business owners put more attention toward giving back, their businesses would grow like hers has.

• Local or charitable outreach efforts that Barhorst has made include:
• Partnering with the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce to connect with local business owners
• Leading a community event for 500 homeless children from 2010 to 2015
• Serving on the board of the American Red Cross
• Sitting on the board of the Bradenton Kiwanis Foundation
• Hosting an event for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program

Barhorst emphasizes the importance of supporting local charity events, not only as a way to give back but also as an opportunity to meet other business owners and build connections. Her customers admire her participation, and she is able to attract future customers by promoting other businesses first and then focusing on her own.

• Barhorst's model for marketing her local business includes:
• Promoting other businesses first
• Focusing on her own business after establishing relationships with other business owners
• Building connections through charitable efforts

By limiting her charitable efforts to one or two key charities, Barhorst is able to put everything she has behind them and make a meaningful impact. She believes that her charitable involvement tells a lot about who she is as a person and how she leads her business.

• Barhorst's advice for other franchisees who are just starting their business includes:
• Becoming a member of the local Chamber of Commerce
• Serving on a committee that reflects an area of interest
• Signing up for charity work, but choosing something that is passionate about
• Volunteering as a morale booster and to indirectly help grow and sustain a successful business