Networking Important For Small Business

By Mike Switzer

Published July 30, 2015 at 5:00 AM EDT

Nine years ago our next guest left the fast-paced banking industry to return to her roots and open a spa in downtown Greenville, SC. She attributes part of her success so far to a women's business networking group, which she also founded.

Mike Switzer interviews Lauren Skelton Siddons, is founder of River Falls Spa and Women Mean Business, in Greenville, SC.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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