Kate Leaman

In November of 2016, when I was 24, my husband and I visited a Shirley’s Popcorn. I fell in love with it and immediately went home and contacted them online.

As a business, Shirley’s shares a lot of similar core values as I do as a person. I love making connections and I love how Shirley’s allows me to do that, whether it’s with my employees or with the customers who come in. There’s a customer that I’ve befriended because of Shirley’s and I had Thanksgiving with her family. Only in Goshen would you meet someone in your store and end up at their table for Thanksgiving.

People think it’s so risky to be young and own a business, but it’s not a risk if you’re betting on yourself. You know how hard you can work.

The best thing that a new business person could do is not to look past anyone. Every single person is worth a conversation. You have to go into that mindset. It’s amazing what you can get done if you’re not looking to take credit for it. There’s no job I wouldn’t do. As a business owner, it’s key to ignore roles and focus on the person.

In Goshen, people don’t ask you why you’re so friendly, that’s just how people are. I think that’s how downtown thrives, and it’s why stores don’t go in and out very quickly. I really enjoy just walking downtown. If I’m at work and just need a break, I’ll walk downtown and often end up talking to another business owner.