You
gotta have heart, especially when diving into a business venture.
Experience has taught that basic principle to the co-founders of
Big Vision Design, LLC, which is why they focus on the business heart
of each of their clients. Pam Hausner and Ruth Packett's job is to
find that heart and showcase it in an attractive, informative, easy-to-navigate
custom-designed website.
"We work with a client to find out where the heart of his or her
company is and how we can best reflect that in the website we develop,"
says Hausner. "Our clients love the way we go the extra mile to make
sure their site reflects their unique message and identity."
Hausner and Packett formed their business relationship in 2001 when
they teamed to launch Big Vision Design. Each brings her own special
talents to the firm. Hausner taps her artistic background and experience,
while Packett tackles the technical aspects of website design ...
a classic symbiotic relationship.
Though they've been in business for little more than three years,
the two met several years before through a local association of homeschool
practitioners in the Kansas City area. They have successfully homeschooled
their offspring and bring the same high standard of performance, devotion
and resourcefulness to their business that they set for themselves
as their children's teachers.
When they first collaborated in website design they contributed their
efforts to local nonprofit groups — volunteer organizations and
causes in which they were interested. Eventually the collaboration
blossomed into something more.
"It didn't take rocket science to figure out we could use our skills
to help small businesses," Hausner asserts.
"We were appalled at the appearance and performance of many of the
business websites we had surveyed and used, and we were confident
we could do a better job (of website design) with our combined talents."
However, while the two budding businesswomen brought artistic talent
and computer savvy to their new enterprise, they still felt the need
for advice so their business could continue to expand and prosper.
They found that advice in the form of Carmen DeHart, consultant with
the Small Business Development Center
(SBDC) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), part of the
statewide Missouri SBDC (MO SBDC) based at the University of Missouri
in Columbia.
"Our business was in a slump and I felt like I was being pulled in
too many directions," explains Hausner. "I made the first appointment
with Carmen after two of our clients urged me to contact the SBDC.
They told me the SBDC had been a great help to them and were confident
that I would also appreciate the resources available there."
DeHart offered pointers and an analysis of Hausner and Packett's
business focus. She encouraged them to more clearly define their potential
client base by conducting more focused market research. In addition
to the business counseling, DeHart informed them of the many services
offered by the SBDC, including training seminars and resources for
marketing strategies.
After adopting what they had learned from the SBDC the Big Vision
Design duo saw a ten-fold increase in their firm's sales during the
past year.
Says Hausner: "Carmen's expertise helped us to target specific goals
that needed to be addressed in order to grow our business. Today,
as a result of her friendly guidance, Big Vision Design is better
positioned to reach our target audience."
And because of the success demonstrated by Hausner and Packett, Big
Vision Design received an award and a legislative resolution at a
Feb. 10, event in the State Capitol in Jefferson City. At the event
— the MO SBDC-hosted Client Showcase—
Big Vision Design and 24 other outstanding Missouri companies met
with legislators to discuss their products and services, and to receive
recognition for their contributions to the economic development of
the state of Missouri.
For more information on the services of the MO SBDC program, call
DeHart at 816/235-6428 or e-mail her at dehartc@umkc.edu. Contact
Hausner regarding information on Big Vision Design at 816/741-2155
or e-mail her at pam@bigvisiondesign.com.
Starred clients were a part of the 2005 Client Showcase [more] 
Visit the current Featured Entrepreneur
