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    • Partner Webinars & Events
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  • Resources
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    • Staff
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  • en English
    ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)en Englishfr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishvi Vietnamese
  • Advising
    • Start Your Business
    • Grow Your Business
  • Training
    • Webinar & Events
    • Partner Webinars & Events
    • On-Demand Videos
  • Resources
    • Funding Resources
  • Programs
    • Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP)
    • International Business Development Program (IBD)
    • Craft Beverage Assistance Program (CBA)
    • Cybersecurity
    • Veterans
  • Successes
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Office Locations
    • Sponsors
    • Results
  • en English
    ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)en Englishfr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishvi Vietnamese
Website
Website
  • Advising
    • Start Your Business
    • Grow Your Business
  • Training
    • Webinar & Events
    • Partner Webinars & Events
    • On-Demand Videos
  • Resources
    • Funding Resources
  • Programs
    • Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP)
    • International Business Development Program (IBD)
    • Craft Beverage Assistance Program (CBA)
    • Cybersecurity
    • Veterans
  • Successes
  • About Us
    • Staff
    • Office Locations
    • Sponsors
    • Results
  • en English
    ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)en Englishfr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishvi Vietnamese
Prior to 2016Years

Karen’s Hallmark

Tracy Nayar July 24, 2018

Gifting Success

To stay on top Karen has used the SBDC’s STAMP program to her advantage as well as our social media marketing consultant and implemented many of their suggestions in her quest to stay on top of her game and provide her customers with the best experience. 

Karen’s Hallmark, Danville

Karen Johnston has over 35 years of experience with the Hallmark brand.  She began her career working in Eden, NC, for Dee’s Hallmark Shop before coming to Danville in 1984 to work in the Hallmark Shop in the new Piedmont Mall.   In 2003 Karen decided it was time to buy the existing shop and put her unique mark on its operations.   She sought help from the Danville SBDC to facilitate this process and was approved by Hallmark for the purchase.

Since that initial contact with the SBDC, Karen has been the ideal client and SBDC supporter.  She has made judicious use of the SBDC course offerings and special programs and has enthusiastically supported the SBDC with its funding partners.  She took the time to share her unique story as a panelist at the Women’s Business Conference in 2012 thus inspiring the 100 participants in Danville, 35 in South Boston, and those that watched on the Internet from our live webcast.

Locally, Karen’s Hallmark Shop is known for its excellent customer service, beautiful displays, special events, and community service projects.  Karen has taken great care in staffing her shop with employees who ascribe to her belief in providing customers with a great shopping experience and supporting the local community.  Not only does the shop carry the very best that Hallmark offers in terms of cards, gifts, souvenirs and Yankee Candles, it also promotes other local and regional small businesses.  Local authors and poets have a natural outlet to sell their books and have book signings, and community organizations have an outlet to sell their products and/or tickets for events including wine tastings, holiday and garden tours, concerts, plays,  and fund raisers.

To stay on top Karen has used the SBDC’s STAMP program to her advantage as well as our social media marketing consultant and implemented many of their suggestions in her quest to stay on top of her game and provide her customers with the best experience.  She also insures that her staff members are included in the training thus giving them the opportunity to learn and grow.  This in turn provides the Mall with a solid tenant that draws foot traffic, the city with significant tax revenue and the community with 8 good jobs that include benefits!

Hound Dog DepotHound Dog DepotJuly 24, 2018
Performance SignsJuly 24, 2018Performance Signs

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help@virginiasbdc.org

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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and GO VIRGINIA, a state‐funded initiative administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) that strengthens and diversifies Virginia’s economy and fosters the creation of higher wage jobs in strategic industries.

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