EDGE knowledge increases confidence and business

Angie Peitz had long wanted to make her 18-year glass etching hobby into a full-time career, but the thought of quitting her full-time job and venturing into her own business was scary.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension's NebraskaEDGE course gave her the incentive she needed to start Etched Impressions by Angie in Hartington.

"In my first year I made the exact same amount as I did working full time," Peitz said.

EDGE – Enhancing, Developing and Growing Entrepreneurs – is a 40-hour course held over 11 weeks in various Nebraska locations. Since it began in 1993, about 2,400 people have taken the course to either learn how to start a business or improve their existing business, said Marilyn Schlake, EDGE coordinator.

The course helps prospective entrepreneurs learn how to work out the finances for a new business, determine if they have the skills needed to run the business and determine if the timing is right for the business.

"It's a testing ground for them to test their ideas," Schlake said. "It's a soul-searching activity for them."

Peitz took the course in Hartington in spring 2006 before launching her business.

"I always wanted to do it full time to stay home with my kids," she said. "This gave me the courage to do it."

She learned to put together a business plan, which allowed her to make the business work. She is finding clientele in northeast Nebraska and Iowa.

She even was commissioned last summer to etch the Nebraska state quarter into the glass doors of the private governor's office in the Governor's Mansion as a gift from the town of Hartington in honor of three past governors from the community.

Peitz recommends anyone considering their own business to take the EDGE course. She said if she hadn't taken it, "I'd still be working for somebody else."

In 2007, 169 people completed the EDGE course across Nebraska, Schlake said. Those 169 represented 75 existing businesses with annual sales of $24.1 million and 280 full-time jobs. The most recent survey on the program showed 71 percent of businesses taking the program increased business.

Artist’s passion becomes a profession

Paintings and sculptures adorn the hallway leading to Larry Roots’ studio, evidence of a passion brought to reality. After years of working as a fulltime artist and maintaining a small studio, Roots decided to take his passion to the next level and start a business—Modern Arts Midwest.

Since it began in 2003, Modern Arts Midwest has provided a venue to showcase Roots’ artwork as well as that of 30 other artists. Located in the downtown Lincoln Historic Haymarket District at 800 P Street, Modern Arts Midwest is a multi-faceted art facility.

The gallery highlights the work of the artists represented by Modern Arts Midwest and is open for viewing. It also stores an inventory of nearly 1000 pieces that can be purchased. Every month the gallery features the work of a specific artist or group of artists.

The basement is a woodshop for framing and packaging artwork. Aside from simply highlighting and selling artwork, Modern Arts Midwest provides consultation, delivery and installation services for customers.

Roots’ studio provides a location for him to create his own artwork as well as office space for the business infrastructure.

Roots is an EDGE graduate as is Nick Lange, assistant manager for Modern Arts Midwest. “We were really hoping to bring in young people like Nick, and working with EDGE helped make sure they understood business principles,” Roots said.

“It (EDGE) forced us to ask tough questions about our business and set some goals that we could work toward,” Lange said.

Building management into the business was a critical goal that Roots and Lange hoped to work toward through EDGE. “We have been successful, but you still have to manage success. We’re not going to forget the aspects of business and values that got us where we are,” Roots said.

In the future, Modern Arts Midwest plans to continue expanding its artist and audience base. It will represent a broader diversity of artists and reach audiences regionally and nationally, according to Roots.

EDGE helped Modern Arts Midwest build on its already solid foundation and can help other businesses do the same. “I recommend it to anyone, large or small, to revisit the basics of business, and EDGE seemed to do that effectively,” Roots said.

To find out more about Modern Arts Midwest, visit their website at http://www.modernartsmidwest.com/. Business hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.