It’s national small business week and all this week the city of austin is hosting free classes for business owners, entrepreneurs, and those thinking about it.
The city’s small business program says the atmosphere is good in central texas right now.
So, we wanted to know – which kinds of companies are thriving, and which aren’t? chris davis joins us with that story.
Chris: I don’t know if you’ve heard, but austin is changing.
A lot of fan favorite shops are moving out or closing down. Those that are still around are adapting to new tech. And in the coming years longtime institutions around austin will push other industries in that direction, too.
Kelly ernst: WE’RE a tech company that happens to sell pants.
Chris davis: it’s the algorithms that kelly ernst wrote that make her company what it is.
Kelly ernst: “This is some of the data that we pull.
“chris davis: her company, redenim, uses women’s preferences and body shapes to match them with high-end jeans.
She ships them out, you keep what you want.
Ernst says it’s a personal solution.
Kelly ernst: “AND once i realized that more and more women struggled with shopping for jeans the way that i did, i was like okay, i have to build this.
“kelly ernst: “Soemkthing like this.
“chris davis: she launched redenim just a couple months ago, and it’s going great so far.
Fast growth led her to call her supplier for an emergency pants order.
Kelly ernst: “AN emergency pants order.
They were like i didn’t know that was thing.
And we’re like, we’re making it a thing.
” chris davis: the city of austin sees a lot more growth in the fashion tech space in the coming years.
Veronica samo: “IT’S the convergence of these industries that provide opportunity for the city.
” expect growth in health and education tech, too.
Big anchor institutions like ut and the dell medical school will play a role.
Small businesses can feed off of them.
Kelly ernst: “I can’t imagine doing it in any other city.
“with five employees, redenim is a small business in the city’s eyes.
Ernst says if growth keeps up that won’t last long.
Kelly ernst: “WE’RE kind of in that phase between idea and it starting to really take off.
” chris:you can find details on some of those small business classes happening this week on our website.
Back to you.
John: most of the companies in the city are considered small businesses.
That’s any business with fewer than 100 employees.
To give you some perspective.
The small business program says 93 percent of all businesses here are small businesses.
This week the financial analysis website wallet-hub ranked austin 2nd in the nation for “BEST large cities to start a business.
” the analysis cited a good “BUSINESS environment.
” and “ACCESS to resources.
“those.