PEORIA (25News Now) – Several business that just started as an idea have now made their mark in Greater Peoria and have a plaque to prove it.
The Turner Center for Entrepreneurship hosted its 7th annual Small Business Awards ceremony Thursday night to celebrate entrepreneurs and those who support them for putting themselves out there and never giving up.
However, the ‘Small Business of the Year’ recipient, Lindsey Rajkowski, said success doesn’t come without its challenges.
“When people see other people accomplishing things, they don’t see the behind-the-scenes; the late-night sleeping at the business, I’ve done that, working late hours, long hours, taking away from my children and my family,” said Rajkowski, who owns The Floratory in Peoria Heights.
Rajkowski said the personal hurdles are also followed by building your customer base and the costs of real estate and supplies.
The director of the Turner Center said that some industries naturally have more turnover than others.
Having to see fellow entrepreneurs make the difficult decision to leave something they’re passionate about is hard to watch, according to Peoria Heights Stoltz’s Smoke Shack owner Justin Stoltz.
“It’s disheartening because people pour their whole life into their business to try to be successful, I mean nobody goes into business thinking they’re going to fail,” said Stoltz.
These self-starters have leaned on those with experience for help, promoted their brand in person and online, and trusted their own instincts.
Stoltz said that when he first started his barbecue establishment, he had no prior experience running an operation like he has now. He didn’t know it was going to push him, but he never took his eye off the prize.
The two entrepreneurs said that when it works out, the reward is greater than the risk.
“The passion keeps you going. Wanting to be able to give what I do to everybody else and share that with them, and then getting the feedback, that’s my motivation,” said Stoltz.
Thursday’s award ceremony showed that small business development introduces new people, sparks new ideas, and forms new connections.
For anyone on the verge of putting everything they have into a small business, Stoltz and Rajkowski said, “Do it!”
“All these big corporations were once small businesses, and they just kept building and building. So as much as we want to hate on large corporations, they did start somewhere, and it may not have been a big corporation; it probably started small and just grew and grew, so they are the foundation,” said Rajkowski.
The Turner Center for Entrepreneurship helps reduce the risk of starting a small business, including providing access to resources, education, and funding opportunities.
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