Local Businesses Return From Destination BootCamp

JACKSON (October 14-16) — Representatives from McKenzie’s Dilla’s Sewing and Paris’ L.I. Smith & Associates, Inc. recently returned from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development’s (TDTD) Destination Business BootCamp® program, hosted at Jackson’s Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store. The program was the second of a three-part series across Tennessee.

The two and one-half day “Destination BootCamp,” created by destination marketing consultant Jon Schallert, teaches independent business owners how to reposition their businesses as “consumer destinations.” According to Schallert, a business using his “Destination Business” strategies can compete effectively with superstores and online competitors, and significantly impact a local community.

Roberto Padilla, owner of Dilla’s Sewing, attended the program with his daughter, Jackelyne Padilla, who plans to open her own formal dress boutique in December.

Growing up in a fashion district, Roberto began sewing when he was 11 years old. He opened Dilla’s Sewing in March 2013, and he has since grown into a trusted sewing and alterations professional, attracting attention from as far as Nashville. He said people seek his business out for quality, affordability, and his quick turnaround.

After attending Schallert’s business bootcamp, Roberto plans to experiment with social media promotions with his business.

Jackelyne, a Bethel University student, has worked at her father’s sewing business for years. She plans to start her own business, turning it into a destination for girls to purchase formal dresses for prom, homecoming and more. With a storefront already inside of Dilla’s Sewing, she has only a few more details to finalize before opening her business.

At the bootcamp, Jackelyne said she learned the importance of a business to be unique. “You have to be different,” she said. “You have to know what makes you unique. I’m a young entrepreneur, and I can relate to the girls trying to find their formal dresses in ways some other store owners can’t.”

L.I. Smith and Associates, Inc., of Paris, also had two representatives at bootcamp: Business Development Coordinator Caleb Orr and Vice President of Marketing and Communications Ashley Horn.

L.I. Smith and Associates is a woman-founded integrative engineering and surveying company with over 150 years of combined surveying experience.

Going into the bootcamp, Horn expected to hear about concepts and marketing ideas to grow a business. Instead, she walked into a robust program with 14 chapters of applicable content to help a business stand out.

The two learned several cost-effective marketing techniques, like pitching articles about land surveying to different magazines and starting an informative blog on their business website. They also workshopped a unique business statement to show L.I. Smith’s employees’ vast experience in surveying and engineering and help their company stand out amongst competitors.

Other local attendees included McKenzie Mayor Ryan Griffin and representatives from The McKenzie Banner.

The program already completed a successful session in Cookeville, with dozens of business owners walking away with actionable tools to grow revenue, attract ideal customers, and strengthen their communities.

The final session is in Farragut, November 5–7, and applications are open for interested participants.

The Destination Business BootCamp® is free to attend for Tennessee businesses, thanks to sponsorship by TDTD. Attendance is limited to 50 businesses and will be determined through a competitive selection process.