Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Belfry.
Hi Jess, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Rooted In Savannah was founded to address a significant gap we observed in the local market for established small businesses. While resources abounded for aspiring entrepreneurs or start-ups, we noticed many businesses operating for 3-5 years were struggling to reach their full potential and profitability. These owners needed relevant, contemporary mentorship from individuals actively navigating today’s business landscape.
My co-founder, Dr. Val Reynolds, and I were already volunteering our time to mentor those in the ideation phase of starting a business. However, we recognized that businesses in the 3-5 year range required more hands-on, in-depth support than volunteer efforts could provide. We also saw a concerning trend: many local support services for full-time business owners were being led by people who lacked first-hand experience in starting or running a business. This, to us, was akin to seeking health advice from a financial advisor—it simply didn’t make sense.
This realization sparked the creation of Rooted In Savannah. Our team, along with our trusted community partners, consists of active business owners from diverse industries. We leverage our own real-world experiences and ongoing applications to provide practical, effective guidance, helping fellow entrepreneurs truly unleash their businesses’ full potential and achieve their goals.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While starting Rooted In Savannah wasn’t entirely without its bumps, it was a much smoother journey than our previous ventures because we approached it from a more experienced point of view. We really leaned on our past endeavors and learned from previous failures. Instead of making a big splash, we decided to let Rooted In Savannah grow organically. This approach saved us money and allowed us to grow the business at a speed that was conducive to our already demanding schedules. Organic growth gave us the assurance that we could service our clients at a pace that worked for both our team and our contract promises.
Not shockingly, our initial service offerings that we identified in the beginning stages, quickly shifted to what the market need was in real-time. We faced a lot of rejections in the beginning, especially when pitching for government contracts because we were too new. It was also a shift for us, moving from offering services for free to charging for them. On top of that, Dr. Val and I were both navigating significant personal life changes that most people would consider reason enough to put a business launch on hold. But we knew the timing was right, and we were confident we were filling a crucial need in our community.
Every “no” we received wasn’t a deterrent; it was an opportunity. We made it a point to ask the tough questions, never taking rejections personally. This feedback was invaluable, helping us refine our go-to-market strategy. Even today, we’re constantly tweaking our pitch to better align with the evolving needs of entrepreneurs. The one constant throughout it all has been our clear understanding of our target market. Once we identified those ‘avatars’, crafting our proposals became much more straightforward.
As you know, we’re big fans of Rooted In Savannah. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
What makes us most proud is witnessing our clients achieve what once seemed impossible.
When a client comes to us and envisions their future, yet isn’t exactly sure how to achieve it, that’s where we step in. Our biggest moments are when clients not only realize their goals professionally, but use their business to diversify their revenue portfolio, that’s when we know we’ve done our job. Maybe it’s buying their first home or expanding into investment properties. Maybe it’s using entrepreneurship to gain financial independence to escape a difficult situation.
We’ve worked with business owners who were told their companies had no value, only to help them find buyers and ensure their legacies continued. And for those denied access to capital, we’ve helped them refine their pitches and business plans, proving that “no” doesn’t always mean “never.”
For us, these relationships go beyond mere transactions; they’re about empowering a whole-life experience. We understand that entrepreneurship isn’t just a 9-to-5 job—it’s a lifestyle. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping our clients navigate their journeys, ensuring both profitability and a healthy work-life balance.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is an independent journey that needs no explanation or validation from an outside source.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rootedinsavannah.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedinsavannah/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootedinsavannah
