✕
☰

Greater Shelby Chamber recognizes small businesses of the year

by

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

Erica Techo

The Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce this year chose six businesses to receive Small Business of the Year awards.

Winners this year were:

Kirk Mancer, president and CEO of the chamber, noted the importance of small businesses. About 70 percent of the chamber’s investors are small businesses, and the majority of employers in Alabama are small businesses, Mancer said.

“Let us be clear, that the impact is very real,” he said.

Each of this year's winners were recognized at a luncheon at the Pelham Civic Complex in May. The chamber welcomed Keith Richards, founder of Taziki’s Café, as the guest speaker.

Richards and his wife, Amy Richards, first got the idea for Taziki’s during a 1997 trip to Greece. During their trip, Richards said they were inspired and he came back to Birmingham wanting to open their own Mediterranean café.

Opening T1, the first Taziki’s location at The Colonnade, was the result of many struggles, including not being able to get a bank loan for a restaurant, Richards said. To get the first $50,000 to start Taziki’s, Richards said they had to take a loan out on their home.

“I took that out, and I knew then what was at stake,” he said.

About 18 years later, Taziki’s has grown from one location in Birmingham to about 56 locations in 15 states, and Richards said there are plans to open about 18 more in the upcoming year.  

“When I designed Taziki’s, it was not to be a franchise organization. It was really to just be one store that’s making $35,000,” Richards said.

Since opening and expanding the Taziki’s brand, Richards said it has always been important to help influence the community. When they bring on new partners or bring in employees, he said it is important they understand the importance of giving back. Giving back is his second key to success, Richards said, after going to God in prayer for big decisions.

“I don’t have a magic book or a crystal ball … but there’s really only one, I go to the Lord for those decisions, those difficult decisions,” Richards said.

The third key to his success, Richards said, is making sure everything is on the line. Just as he had to take out a loan on his home to start Taziki’s, he said having everything on the line helps you realize what you have to lose. He encouraged attendees to be fully invested in their company and in the community as they work toward their goal.

“When you build the brand, all I ask is that you make a difference and change someone’s life,” he said.

The complete list of nominees for Small Business of the Year included:

Category 1 – for companies with 1-5 employees open 1 year or more:

Category 2 – for Companies with 6-10 employees open one year or more:

Category 3 – for companies with 11-20 employees open one year or more:

Category 4 – for companies with 21 or more employees open one year or more:

School for Amazing Kids

Category 5 –  for companies with LESS than 25 employees and open for LESS than one year:

Back to topbutton