Episode 172 – Ashton Critchley – Bessie’s Floral Designs

Jun 17, 2021 | Positively West Virginia

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Ashton Critchley is the founder of Wolverstone Development Company and is the owner of Bessie’s Floral Designs in Oak Hill, WV. She is a 2009 graduate of Concord University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a 2020 graduate of WVU with a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications.

Ashton has spent over ten years working within the hospitality and tourism industry in West Virginia. Her time working within these industries helped her to develop skills in management, marketing, communications, sales and event planning. As a local who grew up in Fayetteville, she realized the region’s unique opportunities and experiences. She then choose to utilize her unique skill set and education through entrepreneurial initiatives to help strengthen economic, social and recreational opportunities within the New River Gorge Region.

SHOW NOTES:

  • 3:31 Ashton, take a minute, fill in some gaps from that brief intro and give us a little behind the curtain look into your business.
  • 7:11 Can you tell us more about the process of buying an existing business?
  • 12:31 What is your 30 sec. pitch for your business?
  • 13:23 What are you most excited about for your company right now?
  • 14:54 How many employees do you have?
  • 15:21 Can you tell us more about what it was like to take over ownership of such a well know and longstanding local business?
  • 16:54 Ashton, what is one take away from that experience?
  • 18:01 Can you give us some insight into what you’re doing with your other company (Wolverstone Development Company)?
  • 20:03 PWV Commercial Break
  • 20:40 What is the long term vision you have for both of your businesses?
  • 22:11 How do you attract new customers?
  • 23:52 What is one of the biggest challenges you’re facing right now?
  • 25:31 What is one piece of advice that you’d give to young people who are thinking about starting their own business?
  • 26:49 What is one thing that you do every day that you think contributes to your success?
  • 27:43 What is one book or podcast that you’d recommend for aspiring entrepreneurs?
  • 29:29 Is there anything else you’d like our listeners to know about your companies or your story?
  • 31:29 How can our listeners learn more about your companies and perhaps even get in contact with you?
  • 32:26 Outro

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Book Recommendation:

Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson

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