Here to Help You Soar

Rocky Mountain Women’s Business Center

There’s a romance when it comes to thoughts of owning a business. There’s an appeal to being able to make all the decisions and having a say in how you spend your day. But once that romance wears off, there’s the realization that with that freedom comes a lot of work just to get a business off the ground.

Kassi Strong is the program director for Rocky Mountain Women’s Business Center (RMWBC), a nonprofit program that’s dedicated to helping female entrepreneurs in Montana. As a business owner herself, she understands the frustration, the fear and the excitement of running and growing your own enterprise.

“If someone thinks she might have a good idea for a business but has no idea how to go about putting it together, we can help her,” Kassi says. “And if someone’s been in business for years and is looking for new ways to expand or rebrand, we can help her too.”

RMWBC, structured similarly to the Small Business Development Center, is federally funded and offers most of its services for free. Offering one-on-one coaching and learning events, the program is designed to help with everything from developing a business model and setting up a limited liability company to applying for a business license, along with suggestions and ideas for marketing.

In addition to working for RMWBC, Kassi co-owns the Prairie Sisters Vintage Market, a business she purchased two years ago. Marketing is paramount for her as they hand-pick hundreds of vintage and handmade vendors from across the region and serve as the host to bring them and their unique goods together under one roof.

“I have a strong understanding of what women go through as business owners,” Kassi says. “Not only with Prairie Sisters, but because I started my first business making and selling crepes at the Missoula Farmers Market years ago.”

It’s drive and passion that Kassi wants women to think about. Are they ready to make their dream a reality or take it to the next level?

“Are they wanting to keep their career or stay at home and do a side hustle, or are they ready to launch into full-time business ownership? Those are some of the things we want them to think about,” she says. “Women-owned businesses are a big deal. They impact not only families, but entire communities.”

RMWBC doesn’t offer grants, but it does help entrepreneurs look for ways to finance their business, from finding the right lending agencies to other creative sources of financing.

Kassi handles the digital marketing and creative side of the program and works with Marguerite Thordarson, the RMWBC business adviser, who lives in Philipsburg and who brings a background of finance and accounting expertise. Together the two are available to help business owners all across the state with in-person and digital events tailored to cover different aspects of owning a business as well as personal coaching.

“It’s exciting to hear about how a woman works to grow her business,” Kassi says. “Is it out of her home, or in a brick and mortar? In a small town, if someone opens a coffee shop, for example, it can have a huge impact on the entire community. It’s fun to be part of that.”

Though RMWBC sees many brand-new business owners, they also serve those that have been operating for some time and are looking for some new ideas.

That was the case with Barbara Wells, owner of Montana Dress Co. Barbara has owned her boutique in downtown Billings for 10 years. She’s an astute businesswoman and has a very successful shop. Still, Barbara is aware that to stay in business, she needs to stay relevant and appeal to a wide range of customers.

“I’m always open to new ideas,” Barbara says. “Because my shop is inter-generational, I need to be able to draw in young women for prom dresses and their mothers for their needs too.”

That’s why she’s curated looks from formal to casual for all ages and sizes.

“I want to appeal to the generation that likes to feel the fabric and try on the dress,” she says, “but I also know that many customers like to browse websites and order online. The big question is how to do both effectively.”

Coming up with ad campaigns that are authentic, attractive and effective takes time and creativity. Barbara reached out to RMWBC to get ideas on how to implement her plans in a way that worked for her.

“Social media changes on a daily basis,” Kassi says. “Our advice is to find a platform that you are comfortable with and where your audience is and just use it. If the worst part of your day is thinking of content to post, and fretting over Instagram or Facebook, maybe it’s not for you, and that’s OK.”

Barbara has found her audience on Facebook. She periodically videos new products and gives fashion tips.

“I think my customers like it because it’s authentic,” she says. “Retail is kind of like psychology; you just have to figure out who your customers are and what they want and then try and fill that.”

Across the state, women have reached out with creative ideas, and together with RMWBC came up with a plan to see if they are viable as a business.

“One of my favorites is a woman that as part of her outdoor business teaches women how to back a trailer. She didn’t want the idea of pulling a camper or a boat to deter someone from going on an adventure, so that became part of her business plan,” Kassi says with a laugh. “We love hearing the ideas that women come up with.”

Kassi tries to bring entrepreneurs together for support and camaraderie. Through her Zoom meetings and social gatherings, she’s seen women become friends as they navigate toward the common goal of success.

“It’s helpful to talk to other business owners to see what they did that worked,” Kassi says. “Women are almost always willing to talk about and share their experiences with each other. We want to see more of that happening.”

FOR MORE ON Rocky Mountain Women’s Business Center, visit rockymountainwbc.org