Partnership and Coaching Support Helps Uptown Businesses Flourish

Operating a small business is challenging, especially in tough economic times. It involves extensive planning, hard work, the ability to solve big and small problems and requires a network of supporters. That’s why Uptown Consortium, Inc. (UCI) has prioritized helping small businesses navigate their path to success for over a decade by providing support and resources right here in Uptown.

During that time, UCI has partnered with Alloy Development Co., one of Hamilton County’s most valuable resources for small business owners and start-ups, to lead, support and fund small business coaching in the Uptown community. The partnership has made a difference to Uptown small business owners and operators. UCI and Alloy are past the mid-year point of the 2023 plan that focuses on maintaining existing coaching relationships with WBE and MBE businesses in the Uptown neighborhoods through outreach and coaching sessions while actively cultivating new coaching relationships.

“We are seeing a variety of businesses, some at the beginning stages of creating a business plan and others that are looking to expand their audience by offering catering,” said Brooke Rapp, Director of Community Development & External Relations at UCI, “The people of Uptown create our warm and vibrant community. Investing in people is critical to the success of our business districts.”

Alloy’s small business coach, Caitlin Siegel Hartzler, is working with small businesses at different stages of development. “I love learning about the unique character of the different Uptown neighborhoods. There is such a wide range of types of enterprises and a lot of great people doing interesting things,” she shared.

We recently reached out to six diverse businesses that receive coaching and small business support to learn more about their unique offerings and how business coaching has helped them.

Good Plates Eatery

Our first stop was to Good Plates Eatery. You can find Andrew Schlanser, co-owner, with his wife Jamie, at 235 West McMillan Street in Clifton Heights. Andrew and Jamie have been serving casual American eats for three years, focusing on specialized sandwiches and quinoa bowls. Creating foods that have a familiar feel, but with a spin on them, is where they find their passion. “I’m always looking for an opportunity to improve,” Andrew stated. “I am new to the program and having a coach to talk with has helped me process some ideas I was having issues with, one being how to launch catering. I look forward to their continued help in the future.”

Be sure to visit the Good Plates Eatery website, Instagram and Facebook. 

YBF Fitness

Next up, we connected with YBF (Young Blessed and Focused) Fitness, a fitness and health organization working towards a permanent location. You can find owner Greg Hamilton in the Avondale Town Center in the fall of 2023. Greg founded YBF Fitness in 2017 and is in the process of opening the gym and hiring a full staff. YBF offers specialized services to seniors, personal training, group classes, volunteer work, and community service projects. During his opening process, Greg has utilized coaching to develop a business plan, pitch for funding from local banks and to create a roadmap for business success. “Coaching has lifted the weight off my shoulders because I would have overlooked many important aspects of building the business due to my lack of knowledge,” Greg shared. “Caitlin has made my life so much easier, and I often tell her that.” 

To get in touch with YBF Fitness for information and bookings, send an email.

AARON Tech

AARON Wearable Tech was founded by Co-Creator and CEO Valda Freeman-Karmo roughly three years ago. AARON Tech is currently based in Karmo’s home office, with plans to locate to the Cincinnati urban core area for assembly, with a supply chain that is based in West Africa. The business is still in the prototype phase.

AARON (Assisted Abilities Responders On-call Network) Wearable Technology notifies 1st Responders when a person with a diagnosed mental disability (user) is a policing suspect to aid the police in decisions regarding the use of force. This product is a GPS and sound-enabled device distributed and monitored by local police to caregivers of people with mental illness.

“We have received coaching from Caitlin Siegel Hartzler, Greg Forte, and Antony Seppi (Alloy Growth Lab), and the support has led to solidifying our business case and obtaining free legal advice on our corporate structure and partnership with a non-profit organization, Alliance for Leadership and Interconnection, which will lead the police engagement pilot work,” Valda shared.

To learn more about AARON Tech, visit their website AARON Tech.

Mortuary Beekeeper

Subsequently, we checked in with Mortuary Beekeeper, LLC owner Senta Folds. Senta founded her business in January 2020. Currently, Mortuary Beekeeping has yet to have a physical location, and she is actively seeking one. The company provides best-in-class direct services to a community of funeral professionals needing embalming, transportation, restoration, dressing, cosmetizing, casketing, funerals at request, death certificate processing, and other service needs to bring a loved one to their final resting place.

“We compassionately serve the dead and educate the living,” Senta explained. Mortuary Beekeeper also educates on embalming, funeral, burial and cremation preplanning. “I am taking advantage of Uptown's business coaching because I want to continue to be educated, empowered and succeed as a business owner within the greater Cincinnati area and beyond,” Senta shared. “It has benefited my numbers and continued business growth.”

To learn more about Mortuary Beekeeper, please visit their website. 

World Peace Yoga

Anna Ferguson, the co-creator of World Peace Yoga, has directed yoga teacher training programs for nearly 20 years. World Peace Yoga, located at 268 Ludlow Avenue, is a longtime fixture in Uptown. They offer a variety of classes, such as Yoga Basics, Vinyasa Flow for beginners and Yoga for People Who Breathe (yoga to everybody). If you are new to the studio, they offer “FREEdom Month of Yoga,” 30 days of unlimited yoga for free. Currently, World Peace Yoga is participating in the Uptown Perks Program and has enjoyed collaborating and promoting the program in the Clifton business district.

To connect with World Peace Yoga, visit Facebook and Instagram, send an email or call/text (513) 300-9642.

Gelato City

Lastly, we reached out to Gelato City. Joshua Fairbanks is the owner and founder and has been in business for a little over a year, operating out of his home. Gelato City offers 100% vegan gelato to the greater Cincinnati area and is actively planning to expand and considering opening in Uptown. “The business coaching has already helped me to look at the big picture of opening a small business,” Joshua shared. “The coaching is priceless. Along this journey, my business plan was updated and upgraded. Caitlin gives me honest feedback on anything I ask about business…from spreadsheets to pop-up shops, the coaching is amazing.”

For more information, connect with Gelato City, send an email or connect by phone/text at (513) 226-1812.

Reflection & Resources

According to Hartzler, one of the positive surprises during the coaching process has been to learn how many new businesses have opened since the Covid-19 pandemic. “A strong crew of new business owners is coming up in Uptown and more specifically, Avondale,” she shared. “Working with these young, talented entrepreneurs as they launch is inspiring. They all share a passion for what they do and a love and commitment to the neighborhood.”

With so many new resources, it can be overwhelming, from loans and grants to technical assistance and certifications. If you want personalized help navigating the network of services to find out what might be available, contact Hartzler directly by email or connect by phone at (513) 458-2227.

Hartzler also shared the following resources: