Small businesses do more than drive the local economy—they shape the character and vitality of our communities. The Fox Cities Chamber is recognizing the contributions of local small businesses during National Small Business Week, May 4–10.
The mission of the Chamber is to support businesses of all size year-round, but they are highlighting the impact of small business this week – those who help make the Fox Cities a great place to live, work, play and thrive.
According to the U.S. Small Business Association, small businesses make up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses – 33.3 million. These businesses employ 61.7 million people, nearly 47% of the U.S. workforce. Roughly 80% of these businesses have no employees other than the owner. Closer to home, Wisconsin has more than 465,000 small businesses that employ 1.3 million people - almost 50% of the state’s private workforce.
The Fox Valley is no exception. And the area’s small business owners love what they do.
Angie Beckum, owner of Angie’s Creative Design’z in Menasha, loves having the freedom to wake up every day and create what’s in her heart. At her one-woman business, Beckum creates customized gifts like t-shirts, gift baskets, candles, coasters, and home décor.
“I don’t have to follow trends; I can make things that are meaningful to me and my customers,” said Beckum. “That kind of freedom is a blessing. Running a small business lets me grow in a way that works for me and my family. I can explore new ideas, try different products, and shift direction without needing approval from anyone but myself. When people shop with me, they’re not just a number they become part of my story. I’ve made real relationships with customers who come back, refer to others, and even become friends. I love being rooted in my local community, I think there is something so amazing and powerful in that as a business owner. People really do want to see small businesses succeed, and that support means everything.”
Many small businesses know that while being your own boss is definitely a perk of running your own business, having no staff, or even a small staff can present its own challenges.
“Attracting talent can be a hurdle,” said Tim Metten, President of Wisconsin Paper Group (WPG). WPG is a not-for-profit association operating as a freight consolidator focused on less-than-truckload, shared truckload, and truckload shipments. “Everyone here wears a number of different hats, and this, at times, can stretch people thin. While that can be a challenge, it also provides an opportunity to support employee growth and foster a fulfilling work-life balance, a core element of our employee vision.”
But being a small, independently owned business also has its benefits, according to Metten. “We can make decisions quickly and not have to go through the usual bureaucratic process. We analyze the situation with facts and data presented and implement solutions that benefit everyone involved.”
Cindy Budiac, Director of Operations and Owner of The Title Exchange agrees that the benefits outweigh the challenges of running a small business. The Title Exchange is a compressive title search service for residential and commercial real estate transactions.
“Competing with others in the same industry, with more resources available to help them, can be a challenge,” said Budiac. “But being locally owned gives us the ability to really understand our customers needs, being that we are able to see their everyday expectations, understand the local market and industry happenings, and see that their needs are being met in the same community that we are.”
Gina Glover, speaker, coach, connector and owner of Gina Connects, LLC, appreciates the flexibility that being a small business owner brings. She started her business in December 2019, just three months before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Glover very quickly learned the importance of flexibility and creativity as an entrepreneur. She did a lot of Zoom based coaching and presentations during her first two years in business, and that flexibility was something that served her well as the mom of two teens.
“I started my business when I had two teenagers, 13 and 16,” said Glover. “My kids are involved in lots of activities and having my own business allowed me the flexibility to be very involved in their lives. That also meant working late nights and early mornings to make up for the fact that I took an afternoon off to attend a cross country meet or a school program, but having a small business that operates out of my home has afforded me the utmost in accommodating busy calendars.”
As Small Business Week is celebrated locally and nationwide, residents are being urged to explore and support local shops and services—particularly those they may not have considered before. Supporting small businesses isn't just about convenience or proximity; it's about investing in the dreams and livelihoods of local entrepreneurs. Each purchase contributes directly to the growth and sustainability of the community's economy.
The Fox Cities Chamber has several programs and resources to support small business in the Fox Cities, including a free membership level for small businesses that meet certain qualifications. For more information about the Chamber’s small business programs, visit https://foxcitieschamber.com/small-business-resources-fox-cities-wisconsin/.
About the Fox Cities Chamber
The Fox Cities Chamber is a nonprofit business-to-business membership organization that unites the regional business community for greater economic impact. Serving Outagamie, Calumet, and northern Winnebago Counties, we are the second largest Chamber in Wisconsin and were named National Chamber of the Year in 2024. We also received a Wisconsin Innovation Award in the nonprofit category for our free membership level for small businesses.
Our organization proudly captures the energy of one of Wisconsin’s most dynamic regions and transforms it into innovative programs and services to champion employers, economic development, and quality of life. The Fox Cities Chamber celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024. For more information, visit https://foxcitieschamber.com/.
