GOATS AND GROOMING BECOME BOOMING BUSINESSES
Pam Matherne came to the Ephraim SBDC with passion and a drive for small businesses. At the time, she was working for a local goat farm and quickly learned that she wanted to run her own business. Her love for animals and enjoyment seeing them healthy and happy gave her the determination to buy a herd of goats and a small farm to raise them on. She then successfully found a market for selling them. With this venture, the entrepreneurship bug struck, and Pam opened a second business – Lovey’s Pet Grooming in Manti. She acquired the skills through experience and now has the opportunity to use it in her own business.
With two successful businesses that keep her busy, Pam has provided an income for herself as well part-time employees who help her with Lovey’s Pet Grooming. She has found great satisfaction in providing for herself, but the joy she gets from helping others receive income has been huge.
These ventures did not come easy for Pam, but she is not afraid of hard work or furthering her knowledge and education, and she has taken classes to increase her skill level.
With two successful businesses that keep her busy, Pam has provided an income for herself as well part-time employees who help her with Lovey’s Pet Grooming.
“As I finish off my bachelor’s degree at USU, I am reminded of the incredible start I got at Snow College,” she said. “They are not just in the business of education, they provide resources for students to take their education to the next level – the real world. For me, this was the most frightening part. But Tim Chamberlain from the SBDC has been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals through his encouragement and business expertise. Keep in mind that I began my studies at Snow at 40 years old, and most colleges may have written me off as not having any chance at success. But the people at Snow kept pushing me to take chances, and I felt they were there as a safety net. The SBDC also helped me apply for farm grants.”
During COVID-19, the SBDC offered a web design course that allowed Pam to get a fully functioning website up and running. Upon completion, the course cost was covered 100%. With funding tight, this was a huge benefit to Pam.
By improving her professional skills and having her services available online for customers to view, Pam was able to achieve her dream of working with animals while generating an income for herself and others.
Business Assisted by The SBDC At:
