Ever find a local hangout so comfortable that you crave to go there and meet the other regulars you know will be there, too? Whether they’re newcomers or not, that’s exactly the feeling customers of coffee shop Barefoot Annie’s feel when they walk in the door of the downtown Simpsonville, SC, shop.

Coffee, Conversation, and a Whole Lot More

Carter always dreamed of opening a coffee shop on the beach with a laid-back vibe, hence her “barefoot” motif. But it took a lot of soul searching over many years to get up the courage to open a coffee shop. She hasn’t made it to the beach yet, but she sure has fulfilled her dream of a successful (and fun) shop where customers love to gather.

The South Carolina Women’s Business Center’s business counselor, Bill Littlejohn, first began work with Carter in late 2003 when she was making preparations and renovating a 109-year-old building to house her coffee shop. He hooked Carter up with no-cost business planning and marketing assistance via the Center’s network of consultants, getting her to the finish (or starting) line – a grand opening event in February 2004.

“I have had the most wonderful guidance and advice from South Carolina Women’s Business Center counselors. As far as I can tell, they aren’t actually humans – they’re angels disguised as public servants. They have thought of things I would never have remembered or known to think of; they’ve given me great examples of timelines to help me gage where I should be at different points along the journey. They’ve been my cheerleaders when I’ve needed them to be, and they’ve believed in me,” says Carter.

The shop has added live musical talent on weekend nights, to the delight of customers who crowd the shop.

Not all Sunshine and Flip-Flops

After getting through the months of fear over whether to start the business of her dreams or not, there were other hurdles to jump before the dream became reality. No bank would loan money to Carter, a first-time entrepreneur. But angel investors came to the rescue. When she needed help coming up with a realistic business plan, Counselor Larry Jolly helped her through the plan. When she couldn’t figure out how to get media and public attention for her grand opening, Public Relations Consultant Dana Todd secured print and TV coverage for the new shop.

Then there was the small matter of moving the entire shop about two years after the grand opening into a larger building, adding a kids’ playroom and lounging area.

Even though the shop has been so successful, Carter still faces some problems. The shop is open 41 hours per week, every minute of which Carter is there working. That doesn’t count the “off” hours when she works on administrative and marketing details. The current transitional stage – being busy but not quite capitalized enough to begin hiring employees to assist her – is hard on Carter. But her admittedly biggest strength – her sense of humor – is helping her through it. “I have a great [coffee] product from a great source,” she says, and coupled with marketing savvy, that makes all the difference.

Barefoot Annie’s

This Ain’t Your Momma’s Cup of Joe!

117 SE Main Street

Simpsonville, SC 29681

(864) 228-3900

www.barefootannies.com