SMALL-BUSINESS OWNERS, what are you doing to stand out from the crowd? Each week, we focus on an entrepreneur who has lessons to share that we think will resonate with other small-business owners.

Jon and Betsy Hughes, co-owners of sporting goods retailer Track Shack, answer our questions:

What are you doing to stand out from the crowd?

Beyond our sporting goods store, Track Shack, in Orlando, we run an events management firm and a nonprofit devoted to health and fitness programs for youths called the Track Shack Foundation. The foundation not only helps us drum up attention for our training classes and hosted runs, but also allows us to give back to the community. In 2007, we raised nearly $598,000 for the local community through the Track Shack Foundation and special events. In turn, local runners became loyal customers.

Name: Jon and Betsy Hughes
Business: Track Shack, a sporting goods retailer.
Industry: Sporting Goods Retailer
Location: Orlando, Fla.
Year founded: 1977
Number of employees: 18
Web site:  trackshack.com

What's the best part about owning your own business?

Running is our passion and having a business that allows us to act as leaders in the running community is ideal. After all, who doesn’t want to follow their passion?

What's the biggest challenge of owning your own business?

Finding time to run. After producing and managing nearly 40 events a year, running in our own events isn’t an option.

What's the biggest hurdle you've overcome?

Initially, we had some financial challenges, but those hurdles were nothing compared to learning how to handle unexpected growth and manage a business. While it was tough at first, we learned under fire and came out better for it.

What's the biggest mistake you've made?

In large businesses, you have someone to advise you on just about anything. But when you have a small business like ours, you have to do everything yourself. So, inevitably, we made a few mistakes. In the late '90s, for example, we purchased a piece of office property that had no access to parking. We were essentially landlocked. Luckily, though, the property wasn't too hard to sell and we quickly moved into a better location.

What's the best business advice you can offer?

Love what you do and surround yourself with awesome people.

 

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