We continue our celebration of Women’s Small Business Month, with a look at the founder and owner of a Germantown, Maryland-based business started by a physical therapist who saw a need and filled it, quite successfully I might add — her clients include Fortune 500 firms.
Julie Landis, president of Ergo Concepts, has redesigned the work stations (desks, chairs, computers, etc.) of companies such as Time Warner, Inc., saving businesses both large and small hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue from employee medical and disability leave. A physical therapist by training, Landis helps makes employee work stations healthier by fitting them to each individual’s body type, from industrial settings to typical desk-based offices to home-offices. Think about it: A 6’5” man should have a very different desk, chair and computer setup than a 5’ woman.
Julie’s firm is one of more than 9.1 million women owned firms that, as reported by the National Association of Women Business Owners, employs nearly 7.9 million people, and generating $1.4 trillion in sales as of 2014.
Additional statistics on Women Owned Business in the United States:
- Women-owned firms (50% or more) account for 30% of all privately held firms and contribute 14% of employment and 11% of revenues.
- Over the past seven years, the overall increase of 8.3 million (net) new jobs is comprised of a 9.2 million increase in employment in large, publicly traded corporations, combined with a 893,000 decline in employment among smaller, privately held companies.
Million Dollar Businesses
- One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned.
- 4.2% of all women-owned firms have revenues of 1 million or more.
We asked Julie Landis the following questions about her business and what it means for her to be running such as vibrant, successful company with hundreds of clients across the U.S. from LA to New York.
1) Why did you decide to start your business?
The seeds for Ergo Concepts, LLC began when my physical therapy patients were brining their work challenges to me in the PT clinic, where I was treating them. I started to realize that many of my patient’s issues were stemming in whole or in part from poor posture and work habits. I knew I needed to get out of the clinic to begin to problem solve these work challenges and as I began to talk to corporate managers I realized that they needed resources they could call upon as well.
2) What has the experience been like? Had you ever owned a business before?
The experience of building a business from an idea to a reality has been an amazing journey. And our organization has met and worked with so many other wonderful individuals and organizations along the way. All with the common goal of improving the work situation for men and women so they can be more comfortable and productive in their day to day work lives. When you can reduce discomfort, improve postures and contribute to someone’s well being that is a great feeling. That feeling is very energizing and keeps all of our employees motivated. For corporations invested in ergonomics it has a positive affect on the bottom line: improved productivity, decreased lost work days, decreased workers compensation claims and increased employee productivity & retention. We like to say ergonomics is good economics!
3) What does being an American Business Woman mean to you?
Being an American Business Woman means that anything is possible if we are willing to work hard. For me it means having the freedom to choose the direction our business will go into the future and together with my team chart that path for success. It means striving to reach for goals and doing our best in all we do.
4) Do you believe that you are setting an example for your daughters AND for your son?
Yes, although I didn’t set out to be a shining example to anyone, I just wanted to be my own boss, in the end I think I am setting a good example to both of my daughters and my son (daughters 18, 19 and son 15). I am showing them that girls can be the boss and that hard work does yield good results if you are willing to work hard. I have shown them to have complete faith in their own ability to figure things out. And I hope I have shown them that if they have a voice in their head telling them to follow a dream they should consider listening to it.
5) Do you have any advice for women who may want to own their own business one day?
I would recommend that women network as much as possible. I’ve always been amazed at how many people are willing to help our organization find clients and are so interested in our line of work. When you are passionate about your work, others get passionate about helping you, so get out there and get your message out. Also get involved in social media and market yourself to the public, as it’s the wave of the future. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask those who have gone before you in your line of work and who are successes to mentor you and for advice. Find friends in the business world, attend conferences, trade shows and network there too and stay connected with those people. Most important have fun and enjoy what you are creating.
Thank you Julie Landis and kudos to you!
