One of the best things about working with small businesses is the opportunity to meet some truly great folks. As a resource partner of the US Small Business Administration we support their efforts to recognize outstanding businesses and champions of small business across the state. This year we were privileged to nominate Taryn Scher for the Young Entrepreneur of The Year.
We met Taryn just before she launched her business three years ago. Today she has more than 15 active clients and has worked on more than 35 projects. Her business is being recognized for consistent year-over-year growth, contributing to the success of her clients and bringing innovative approaches to the small business community.
Ms. Scher, 27, is a native of Sharon, MA, who graduated from the University of Maryland in 2005. Upon graduation she moved to New York, NY, and promptly landed a position with a 5th Avenue fashion house. She was smitten with the fashion business, and in three years she advanced to the position of PR & Marketing Manager. When she moved to the Greenville area in 2007, her employer became her first client as she launched her business.
Within a matter of days Taryn had signed a second client, and then a third. From the beginning cash flow was stabilized by her former employer, and additional clients were engaged as time and resources allowed. By the end of the first year, TK PR had billed just under $100,000. Steady growth has followed. In 2009 and 2010 TK PR made the logical expansion from public relations into event planning. The primary goals were two-fold: fully meet or exceed the client’s needs and diversify revenue streams. With a number of still-talked-about events under her belt, her event planning efforts are creating additional buzz for TK PR and helping to generate new business.
TK PR has provided internships to six college students since beginning the program in 2009. Some of those interns have been placed at the New York office of a large client while some have worked in Greenville. In addition Ms. Scher has personally donated more than 100 hours of one-on-one mentoring to six other women in Greenville, one of whom has also begun her own business.
Some of TK PR’s best work may be done outside client contracts and without compensation. Taryn is an effective networker and relationship builder who is willing to lend her knowledge, intuition and connections to a number of good causes in the community. One of Taryn’s recent “wins” in public relations and media placement has been in creating tremendous exposure for the City of Greenville through a feature in US Air’s in-flight magazine. The hundreds of thousands of impressions that article creates will lead to multiple new business locations, increased tourism traffic and more corporate events in the Greenville area. A guess at the value of such exposure would have to be in excess of $1 million for the City of Greenville.
Ms. Scher has also contributed countless hours to local non-profit organizations. Since the beginning of her business she has been involved with Euphoria, an event featuring food, wine, and music designed to keep Greenville on the map as a livable city with cultural offerings. In the process Euphoria makes substantial contributions to local charities. Following are some other examples of community events, organizations and activities she has supported through her time or contributions. She has made the important connection between a business and it’s community.
- Clemson University – Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Class Lecture
- Euphoria – Annual Event Planning and Promotions
- The Children’s Cancer Fund of New York
- The Bridesmaid’s Ball (Greenville, SC)
- The Ken-Ducky Derby (Greenville Evening Rotary)
We are proud to celebrate these successes with Taryn, and wish her luck! The Small Business Administration’s ‘Salute to Small Business,’ where statewide winners will be announced, will be held in May.
Taryn is awesome and this is a well deserved nomination. I hope she wins!