Saturday, September 7, 2024
After successfully opening CandY Pet Palace 17 years ago, owner Yvonne Williams is stepping into a new role where she can help other businesses thrive in the community.
As the Gatesville Chamber of Commerce’s newest Chamber Liaison, Williams aims to collaborate with local businesses and non-profits by helping them grow their recognition in the public.
“I’m very big about getting businesses into the community’s eye as far as advertising, such as social media, the newspaper, and website,” Williams said. “There are several avenues that I can go to help get our members out there in the community.”
Williams plans to utilize different marketing techniques to highlight the events and expertise of Chamber members and other businesses, such as through Facebook and Instagram Reels.
“There are a lot of businesses that have a lot to offer, but people may not know exactly what,” she said. “That’s what I would like to do – start showing what people offer.”
Along with promoting businesses within the community, Williams hopes to share some of the resources and knowledge she has gained from operating her own business with other entrepreneurs. “I built that business from the ground up,” she said.
Williams’ work experience begins at HEB Grocery Store where she started working at only 16 years old. After 20 years at HEB, she used her savings to open CandY Pet Palace – a pet grooming, boarding, and mobile boarding business.
Without a college business degree, Williams said she had to navigate the industry on her own.
“It is possible for someone who doesn’t have a college degree to own a business. There are a lot of certificates out there that I think people don’t know about,” Williams said. “I’m going to try to get all of that kind of information out.”
While her parents taught her work ethics and morals, she said the managers at HEB helped show her how to use those work ethics.
“As far as running a business, that’s how it really prepared me to do this because this is basically what (the Chamber) is – even though it’s a nonprofit, it's still a business organization,” Williams said.
Williams first got involved with the Chamber after volunteering to help organize the Art in the Shadow event, an art show for local artists that took place during the weekend of the total solar eclipse in April. This experience led her to join the Chamber as an ambassador, so she could continue contributing to the community.
“It just kind of lit a fire under me,” she said.
After helping with the Chamber’s annual Gatesville Shivaree event, she knew she wanted to take on the role as Chamber Liaison when the position became available.
Chamber of Commerce President Mason Matthews said via email that he looks forward to seeing Williams fulfill the organization’s mission statement, “Growing Business. Building Community.”
“The Gatesville Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Yvonne Williams as the newest Chamber Liaison,” Matthews said. “Yvonne brings a wealth of business knowledge and community-minded ideas to the Gatesville Chamber of Commerce. As a 17-year business owner of CandY’s Pet Palace and More, Yvonne knows the importance of doing business locally and the value that the Chamber of Commerce may add to one’s business.”
As she settles into the role, Williams said she is always open to fresh ideas from the community that she can implement at the Chamber. Some of her own plans include opening the Chamber’s office, the Historic Cotton Belt Depot, as a space that people can rent for smaller events like birthday parties. In addition, she hopes to begin a series of classes that different businesses can host so people can learn more about their area of expertise.
Williams encourages business owners and people in the community to help support the Chamber’s efforts by becoming a member or an ambassador.
“It is really a lot of fun, because you get to fellowship, you get to conversate, and you get to meet all kinds of people in different walks of life,” she said. “It really is fun and is very rewarding.”
The Chamber of Commerce serves as a resource and meeting spot for local businesses that helps promote their growth in Gatesville. It also serves as a visitors’ center, offering maps, business cards, pamphlets for surrounding areas, visitor guides, Texas State Park information, and more.
To learn more, visit gatesvillechamber.com
