The People In Your Neighborhood: Austin of Southern Lake Company

Good afternoon Community! I recently chatted with a friend of mine, Austin Schank, who has made a name for himself as a local small business owner. In May of 2018, Austin combined his passion for hometown roots, the outdoors, and entrepreneurship by introducing his business - Southern Lake Company. The SLCo. brand offers a variety of apparel items for all of your fishing and outdoor needs. Here's how our conversation went...

• What would you like for people to know about your business?
We are very small, and true to our brand. We love our hometown.

• Do you have a certain daily routine that sets you up for success? If yes, what is it?
Communicating to customers and trying to find others with like-mind in our business.

• What gave you the idea to start this business?
I love the outdoors, I grew up doing it in this area. When I moved from SWVA [Southwest Virginia], I wanted to something I could still share with my hometown.

• What has been the biggest surprise/challenge of business ownership so far and how did you overcome it?
The grind it takes to keep up in 2021/2020. I'm still working on this as I work a 9-5, 6 days a week.

• What is your most effective means of bringing in new customers?
Social media! Easy.

• If you could go back in time, what’s the one thing you would tell yourself about starting your business?
I would tell myself to be more patient in the process. Stay true to the brand and never stop.

• How do you juggle other responsibilities and interests outside of work?
I juggle fairly well. I'm pretty good with time management but I still face challenges.

• What is one of the biggest lessons you've learned as a business owner?
That other small business owners have a lot of heart and determination. It takes a lot.

• Where do you go / what do you do when you need inspiration for something new?
I specifically have a group of other small business owners that I reach out to for brain storming sessions. The greatest part about all of this, is that everyone is in a different market and have completely un-biased opinions about new ideas.

A great perspective from a young and driven businessman! You can keep up with Southern Lake Company by searching for them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For even more info and to view the apparel, check out SLCo at https://southernlake.co/. I hope Austin's story inspires you to stay driven and to always remember where you came from. We'd love for you to share your business story with us here in this space as well. Take care everyone!