Summer Schriner knew Old Town, in Lansing, was missing something.
So when it came to starting another business in the area, she filled the void when she opened Grace, a women's clothing boutique, 115 W. Grand River Ave.
"I really love Old Town and thought there was a market and a niche not met for a little higher-end women's clothing store," said Schriner, who opened Grace in February. "I just wanted to fill that need and it's been wonderful - absolutely wonderful."
Schriner, 29, who also helped create art gallery and gift boutique October Moon, 1209 Turner St., in Lansing, soon will join a national organization of women who aspire to run businesses.
Ladies Who Launch is a national networking group that gives women support to begin dream businesses or enhance existing ones, said Jackie Bethea Cuyvers, director of the West Michigan and Lansing Ladies Who Launch Incubator program.
One of the activities the networking company sponsors is a series of Incubator classes aimed to get up to 12 women involved in the process of moving forward with ideas of starting businesses, improving existing businesses or making life changes, Cuyvers said.
Four separate, two-hour classes are scheduled to start in August. It's the first time the classes have been in Lansing, and Schriner will host and take part in the series of classes at her Grace boutique.
"I have seen the program on the Today Show and looked into it and was really impressed," she said. "It's an opportunity to network and hear of any ideas these women might have to make a business better."
Her budding boutique has been beneficial for the Old Town area, said Jamie Schriner-Hooper, executive director of the Old Town Commercial Association - and Schriner's sister.
"She's had a huge impact on the area, running a whole new clientele (in Old Town)," Schriner-Hooper said. "The Temple Club initially was the link between Old Town and MSU students and now Grace is starting to be, a link to the students for the area."
Schriner and others will be able to bounce ideas off one another and offer personal insight on how to be successful.
No matter the age, all of the women possess one common denominator: the motivation to be successful, Cuyvers said.
"Lots of great women go through and move forward after going through this program," she said. "It's a setting that's supportive and helpful."
The Incubator classes are meant to form tight-knit bonds that will develop lasting social networks with women who have similar passions in life, Cuyvers said.
"The whole program is based on the premise that women do business and form relationships differently than men," Cuyvers said. "It's for women in all different stages. Women participate in the class from all different walks of life and ages."
Jennifer Ettinger, 39, of Grand Rapids, launched her business, www.fityourstyle.com - a women's health, wellness and beauty Web site that offers services in the privacy of a person's home or office - more than a year ago.
Last month, she completed the series of classes in Grand Rapids.
"I went into the classes with the idea of my business being a year old and looking at the Incubator and resources to educate me and guide me to what the next step is in running the business," she said.
The information and resources she learned about helped develop a stronger business that Ettinger works at full-time.
"I wake up everyday and love what I do for a living," she said. "From the classes, I have a clearer vision of what the next steps are that I need to do. I needed to be guided and be mentored to the next level of my business, which is the education I received from the Ladies Who Launch program."
