Tennessee Entrepreneurs Share What Makes State Great
A pro-business climate, a strategic location and an abundance of resources make Tennessee a magnet for innovators, dreamers and doers. Across the Volunteer State, entrepreneurs are finding success. Hear from three Tennessee entrepreneurs below, whose stories highlight the unique advantages of doing business here and the power of local communities to support and nurture talent.
Sprinkle Me Sugar
In Jackson, theLOCAL is an incubator founded by the Jackson Downtown Development Corp. (JDDC) to support homegrown entrepreneurs. After opening and closing Sprinkle Me Sugar, a gourmet French macaron and tea shop, owner and founder Raina Shults turned to theLOCAL for business support.
“I started Sprinkle Me Sugar as a side hustle as a stay-at-home mom, but I had to close during the pandemic,” Shults says. “When we decided to move back to West Tennessee, I decided to reopen Sprinkle Me Sugar, using the lessons I learned from my shortcomings in my first business attempt.”
The incubator consists of three micro-retail units built inside shipping containers with one-year leases that have the possibility to be renewed. theLOCAL also provides opportunities for mentorship through theCO, a regional innovation hub, and the CO.STARTERS program, which supports aspiring entrepreneurs.
“This is a program that helps equip new business owners with the tools they need to be successful,” Shults says. “And it also helps you network with other new businesses.”
Since relaunching, Sprinkle Me Sugar has opened a brick-and-mortar cafe of its own and operates two macaron vending machines, sharing its treats with Jackson residents.
“I am a fourth-generation Jacksonian, and I love this city,” Shults says. “It fills my heart with such pride to be able to grow a thriving business here and contribute to the community.”
Definition Dental and Wellness Spa
After serving in the Army and working in a corporate dental office, Dr. Tiffanie Garrison-Jeter decided to go out on her own. Combining her passions for aesthetics and self-care with her dental experience, she built Definition Dental and Wellness Spa from the ground up in Nolensville.
“My business is a female-owned business, a veteran-owned business and a minority-owned business, and people in Williamson County have been very supportive of all of those things,” Jeter says.
In addition to traditional dental services, such as cleanings, extractions and fillings, Jeter’s practice also offers a variety of beauty and wellness services, such as Botox, lip fillers and other cosmetic treatments. Jeter also recently added an esthetician to her office to provide services such as facials and chemical peels, and she plans to continue to grow and incorporate new services and technology.
She encourages prospective business owners in Williamson County to plug into the community.
“It’s a close-knit vibe, so you have to get involved in the local community to make your business known,” she says.
Axis Inc.
Jon Phillips, founder and president of Axis Inc., found Johnson City to be the perfect place to establish his security and event staffing business.
“It’s a phenomenal place to live and be a business owner,” Phillips says. “It’s a small community where people are friendly and understand one another. You just don’t have the grind of the big city.”
Axis continues to grow, staffing events throughout the country, like Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, CMA Fest and Hangout Music Festival.
Some of the biggest draws to doing business in Johnson City, according to Phillips, are the low cost of living and lack of state income tax.
In addition to Axis Inc., Phillips and his wife own three other companies, including a national touring company that represents three of the largest touring artists in the world.
As his business grows, Phillips looks forward to reinvesting in the Johnson City community.
“Although we work on a national level, we bring these tax dollars back to Johnson City,” Phillips says. “My wife and I try to bring that money and put it right back into the Johnson City community and into local organizations that help those in the area. We try to give back to the community as much as we can.”
Get to Know Tennessee
Want to learn more about living and working in Tennessee? Check out the new edition of the Livability Tennessee Economic Development Guide.