Gestures Inc.

GI has seven employees and was developed as an expansion of its parent company, Kim Jameson Design (KJD). “The parent company operated as a home based business specializing in floral arrangements and rental equipment for weddings and special events for nine years prior to this expansion”, said Kim Jameson the company’s owner.

After recognizing her company’s revenue’s had stalled at $850,000 annually, Kim called upon SBDC Executive Director David Doyle in the Memphis office of TN SBDC network for advice on growing her company. “Kim would call and ask, ’David, what’s your last appointment of the day?’ Then we would work sometimes until dark,” said David. The SBDC focused on the company’s strengths to improve performance. Most significantly, due to its superior service, quality products, competitive pricing GI’s customer base had grown from 3,000 past, current and prospective names to over 10,000 in its first few years of operation. The company’s software program had capabilities to track customer spending, important dates, and corporate statistics for its business clients.Teleflora technology was routing business to its shop via its dedicated “Dove” network. The retail shop had developed the capacity to service walk-in clientele, orders-by-phone, and internet orders. From a local economic perspective, there was tremendous growth in downtown Memphis with single family, apartment and condo spaces rapidly increasing the available market base. David said , “The challenge was to develop a business plan that optimized the company’s capacities, capabilities and economic strengths to increase revenue. Kim had already done a great job developing a sound infrastructure for her business.”

“The SBDC’s job was to assist Kim in developing the goals, objectives and milestones needed to grow the company over the next three years,” said David. After many meetings where various growth scenarios were explored, the business plan was completed showing the best course of action was to seek financing to hire a new marketing director that would oversee expansion of its web presence and build on the success of “Gesture’s In An Hour” by expanding outside of the 38103 zip code to other adjacent areas. To implement the business plan, the SBDC assisted GI in closing two loans totaling $130,000. “With its expanded web presence the company is starting to receive orders from around the country,” said David. Please visit GI’s websites at www.kimjamesondesign.com and gesturesgifts.com.