Women To Watch: Small Businesses On The Rise

By Theresa Howard

HOBOKEN, NJ — From real estate and restaurants to floral studios, dance studios and independent service firms, women rule when it comes to small business ownership in Hoboken.

While there are no hard figures about just how many women-owned businesses operate in the Mile Square, anecdotal evidence suggests that women here mirror a national trend that increasingly shows more small business ownership dominated by women.

Nationally, the growth of women-owned businesses outpaces growth of small business overall. Since 1997, women owned businesses have grown nationally by 54%, while small business growth has risen just 37%, according to State of Women Owned Businesses Report by American Express OPEN.

“There’s no dispute that women owned businesses make up a large portion of the small, independent businesses in Hoboken,” says Gregory Dell’Aquila, president of the Chamber of Commerce. In fact, the increasing presence of women pushed the Chamber to start up the Women in Business Council in 2011.

Rita Gurevich, 28, who started Sphere Technology Solutions in 2009, represents the new generation of women business owners. Young, empowered women who are eager to do their own thing with or without kids.

Gurevich started the firm after developing a unique skill set in data management and migration following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in 2008. When she recognized that many of her current colleagues going to other banks could be potential new clients she applied her data migration experience to her own firm. She started as an independent contractor and today employs a dozen people who are specialized in data compliance and migration. “When I realized this was a direction I wanted to go I recognized it’s a good time because there are less risks at this point in my life,” she said.

Like Gurevich, Elizabeth Barry began her own business in Hoboken after an early career in ad sales for a dance magazine where “within a year I blew it out of the park and broke records,” says Elizabeth Barry, 33, who operates a full-service marketing agency, Elizabeth Barry & Associates. “I was working with these small business owners and saw their non-existent branding. So, I started consulting them on the side. The universe was throwing pebbles at me. I couldn’t sell them ad space because I wanted to help them with their brand. I left and 12 days later I launched my own business.”

That risk-taking is something women are more comfortable doing these days. Bina Patel, 35, who lives in Manhattan, opened Copper Kettles, a stylish cooking and kitchen goods store, in 2010. She had been working with a digital start up doing ad sales but as is the case with start ups, one job title usually means multiple roles and responsibilities. “I realized I’m running my own business within a business so why not do it for myself. I thought, ‘If I don’t do it now, I don’t know when I will.’ I also realized I have enough experience and confidence under my belt to make it work.”

In the case of longtime barber shop owner, Nancy Grosso, there were no pebbles, just a very straightforward opportunity from her then-boss, Phyllis. Grosso owns and operates First Street Barber on First Street, and became her own boss when she acquired Hudson Street Hair in 1986. “She was pregnant and wanted out of the business,” says Grosso, whose old-school operation forgoes flat screen televisions and cell phones when possible. She prefers a more neighborhood vibe with banter – and raucous jokes. Grosso continued to operate Hudson Street Hair until 1992 when high rents forced her to close and go back to working for someone else. But this time the universe dropped a boulder in her lap.

As fate would have it, a customer, who is also a landlord, had a space on First Street that was available and affordable. That remains a challenge for any business owner in town. Grosso jumped at the opportunity to work for herself once again. “This place fell into my lap because I cut the landlord’s hair. I was telling him that I miss having my own business and he told me he had a tenant who was late on his rent. Two months later, I was able to move into my current location at 55 First Street.”

Susan Alvarez, 44, opened Cut One Floral when she was 31. The year was 2000 and she landed her own floral studio after toiling under other florists for years without being recognized for her stunning designs. Alvarez, who holds a degree in psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University says she “really wanted to try my hand in the floral industry. My grandmother and I used to garden together all the time.”

For full article and images visit: http://www.hmag.com/2013/05/women-to-watch-small-businesses-on-the-rise/