Downtown Business Owners: Marie Rohrer

Women Magazine
December 1, 2010

Marie Rohrer Go Wild With Birds, LLC

What do you enjoy about owning a business?  I enjoy the satisfaction of knowing how very much I am learning, growing and becoming a person I didn’t really think I could ever be.

Why did you decide to locate in downtown Neenah?  I liked the steady stream of people who shopped and dined here, the variety of establishments already here, the among of current corporate employees and the ones to come, with Plexus.

What is the greatest challenge you face as a business owner and how do you overcome it?  My greatest challenge is the number of different hats I need to wear all in one week, which go with the multitude of tasks it takes to run a business.  Occasionally I’ll have a hiccup or two and miss something, but I seem to get better with time and experience.  I am always on the lookout for people who can help me with tasks I struggle with.  I have acquired a few helpers I contract with now and they have become a very welcome part of my team.  By letting them help me with some of the work, I find it provides me with more positive energy for the rest of my job.

What have you been doing to make it in today’s economy?  I have adjusted my idea of success.  I continually examine my expenses to see if there are less costly, yet effective, options.  I consult with more experiences business owners for their advice.  I study business books and compare what I read with what I am doing and learning in my setting.  I have learned to tell myself “No, not now” when ordering merchandise.

What advice do you have for women business owners?  First, if you are a one-woman show like I am, don’t isolate yourself.  Meet on a regular basis with other business owners who understand what you are experiencing.  Informally stop in their shops, say “Hi” and chat a bit.  Shop in their stores and become acquainted, and join a networking group.  Second, don’t forget to laugh.  Surround yourself with people you can laugh with.

How do you balance business and family?  I am fortunate that my husband and 17-year-old son are both extremely independent.  I don’t have many family demands on my time.  However, not a lot of home-style cooking gets done, either.  I have compromised what I used to before I began working such long hours.  My family is very understanding of my desire to do this thing that I love.  It was actually my need to grow beyond my family that inspired me to explore my own business.

Is there someone special you’d like to see walk into your business?  Yes, a very generous Angel Investor who heard about my business and wants to fund my future dream store.