LAWRENCE, KAN -
It might seem risky to start a new business in a recession, but many economists say that now is a great time to try. A Lawrence, Kansas, woman took her knowledge of nutrition and some help from friends to start a successful, if a little nutty, food business.
Nancy Prather sells a unique product -- smoked and flavored pistachios. She calls her company Nut Nation, but she credits some of her entrepreneur friends for helping get her business off the ground.
"I thought this was going to take years for this to start," said Prather. "This was born as an idea a year ago and actually started feet off the ground in March."
Prather, who started the business when her husband got laid-off, is selling her products in Lawrence and in stores in Wyoming and New Jersey. She said that she did some research and found that starting a business in a struggling economy is actually a good idea.
According to CNN Money, 16 of the 30 companies that make up the Dow started during a recession, including Google, FedEx and Microsoft.
"There was a big article starting your business in a down economy and it talked about how this is an opportune time to start your own business because some of the larger businesses are laying off they're downsizing," said Prather. "If you've got a niche product, its a great time to start a business."
Prather's friends also helped. Her friend and neighbor Jean Younger has her own chocolate business called Sleepy Jeans, and with it a commercial kitchen she let's Prather use.
"Being able to use Sleepy Jeans kitchen was phenomenal for me because it allowed me to get licensed by using it when she wasn't there, and I dont have to install a $10,000 commercial kitchen," said Prather.
"If there's small business owner that's trying to get it going, I'll help because somebody helped me," said Younger.
For more information on Nut Nation, check out the website here.
For more information on Sleepy Jeans Confections, check out the website here.
Nancy Prather sells a unique product -- smoked and flavored pistachios. She calls her company Nut Nation, but she credits some of her entrepreneur friends for helping get her business off the ground.
"I thought this was going to take years for this to start," said Prather. "This was born as an idea a year ago and actually started feet off the ground in March."
Prather, who started the business when her husband got laid-off, is selling her products in Lawrence and in stores in Wyoming and New Jersey. She said that she did some research and found that starting a business in a struggling economy is actually a good idea.
According to CNN Money, 16 of the 30 companies that make up the Dow started during a recession, including Google, FedEx and Microsoft.
"There was a big article starting your business in a down economy and it talked about how this is an opportune time to start your own business because some of the larger businesses are laying off they're downsizing," said Prather. "If you've got a niche product, its a great time to start a business."
Prather's friends also helped. Her friend and neighbor Jean Younger has her own chocolate business called Sleepy Jeans, and with it a commercial kitchen she let's Prather use.
"Being able to use Sleepy Jeans kitchen was phenomenal for me because it allowed me to get licensed by using it when she wasn't there, and I dont have to install a $10,000 commercial kitchen," said Prather.
"If there's small business owner that's trying to get it going, I'll help because somebody helped me," said Younger.
For more information on Nut Nation, check out the website here.
For more information on Sleepy Jeans Confections, check out the website here.
