Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanne Fowler
JoAnne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My son and I are both experienced and passionate about making a difference and transforming communities to support, shop, and buy local. Local businesses are the heart of our cities, representing families, friends, neighbors, and our church communities.
My professional career began in corporate America, working for the largest wireless company in the U.S. I spent over two decades in the wireless industry—one could say I grew up in it. Throughout those years, I received invaluable training and experience in sales and marketing. I started as a receptionist, answering the telephone and greeting customers in the lobby, and when I retired two decades later, I was the SE Regional Sales Director. Despite the comfort and success I found in corporate life, I always knew that one day I would want to pursue my own entrepreneurial dreams.
That day finally came when I decided to take a leap of faith, leaving my corporate job to open my first entrepreneurial venture—a Christian coffee shop called Grounds of Faith. Three years into this venture, the economy took a downturn. Gas prices skyrocketed, coffee sales plummeted, and a year later, my debt had risen significantly. Not one to be deterred, I pivoted to a new business—catering, and wedding cakes. Although this venture was successful, it was physically demanding and lacked the passion I desired. I had promised myself that once I left my corporate job, I would only pursue work that I truly enjoyed.
While considering my next move, a chance meeting with a local nonprofit offered me the opportunity to join their staff as Executive Director, a role I held for seven years. This position challenged me to develop new skills, such as grant writing and fundraising. Under my leadership, we transitioned the nonprofit from a resource center into a fully functioning medical clinic. This transformation required me to expand my expertise in writing policies, procedures, employee handbooks, and volunteer programs to name a few, as our old operational documents were no longer valid. The challenges brought by COVID-19 were beyond understanding for those who did not serve in the medical field. Once again, I decided it was time for a change, as my passion had turned to burnout.
As a lifelong learner, I returned to school to obtain my real estate license. I began working with a local builder as both a project manager and real estate agent, overseeing each build, coordinating contractors, managing projects to ensure timelines were met, and eventually selling the completed homes. This new role allowed me to acquire even more skills.
During this time, my son founded an influencer company called Get Local. His vision was to promote and support local businesses using his talents in social media marketing, audio-video recording, and operations. As he worked with local businesses, he recognized a need for services beyond his expertise—services in sales, grant writing, fundraising, and company startup guidance, all of which I had experience with. He asked me to join him in launching Get Local, and together, we have grown the company into a multifaceted platform that supports local businesses in countless ways.
Today, Get Local offers a range of services, including educational events, business consulting and coaching, startup guidance for both for-profits and nonprofits, and the promotion of local businesses through The Get Local Podcast, social media posts, and Get Local Shout Outs, where we create and promote video content to boost their visibility. We also run Get Local Connect Network Groups, where business owners meet bi-weekly to share ideas and strategies for growing and scaling their local businesses, as well as for engaging their communities to support, shop, and buy local.
With over 18 certifications and more than two decades of experience, I am fully committed to using my knowledge and expertise to ensure that local businesses not only keep their doors open but also thrive and succeed in an ever-changing market. My journey has equipped me with the skills to drive growth, foster innovation, and support the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels our communities.
Together with my son, we are proud to lead Get Local, a platform dedicated to making a tangible difference for entrepreneurs, local businesses, and the communities they serve. Our mission is to empower local business owners, provide them with the tools and resources they need to scale, and build a network of support that drives sustainable growth. We believe that by strengthening local businesses, we are contributing to the prosperity and resilience of the communities that we all call home.
At the heart of everything we do is a deep passion for helping others succeed. We are more than just business consultants—we are advocates for local businesses, champions of community growth, and partners in their journey toward success. As we continue to grow and evolve Get Local, our commitment remains steadfast: to create lasting impact and transform the local business landscape for the better.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has been anything but smooth, and there have been numerous challenges along the way. Leaving the security of a corporate job was one of the first and most significant hurdles. In corporate America, I had financial stability, recognition, and a support system that made everything run smoothly. Walking away from all of that to start my own business was a leap of faith, and it required me to invest everything I had—both time and money—into my first startup.
Seeing initial success only to watch it fail was a tough pill to swallow. My first venture, a Christian coffee shop, faced economic challenges that were beyond my control. When gas prices skyrocketed, coffee sales plummeted, and I found myself in debt despite my best efforts. But I didn’t let that stop me. I pivoted to a new business—catering and specialty wedding cakes—which did well financially, but it didn’t bring me the fulfillment I was searching for. I had to face the reality that success in terms of profitability doesn’t always equate to personal happiness.
When I transitioned to the nonprofit sector, I found joy in the work I was doing. Helping others and making a difference in the community was incredibly rewarding. However, the demands of the role, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to burnout. But throughout all of these experiences, I never quit or gave up. Each challenge taught me something valuable and helped shape the person I am today.
These struggles have made me more resilient and adaptable, which are qualities I now bring to my work with Get Local. I understand the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and I’m deeply committed to helping other local businesses navigate their own challenges, keep their doors open, and ultimately thrive. The road has been far from easy, but every bump along the way has reinforced my dedication to making a lasting impact on the local business community. My journey from corporate executive leadership to local business advocate has been one of continuous learning, adaptation, and passion.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Get Local, we specialize in empowering local businesses and entrepreneurs through a comprehensive suite of services designed to help them thrive in today’s competitive market. My son founded the company with a vision to promote and support local businesses, leveraging his talents in social media marketing, audio-video recording, and operations. I bring to the table my extensive experience in sales, grant writing, fundraising, and company startups. Together, we have transformed Get Local into a multifaceted platform that supports local businesses in countless ways.
Our services include everything from educational events, business consulting, and coaching, to startup guidance for both for-profits and nonprofits. We also help promote local businesses through The Get Local Podcast, social media posts, and our unique Get Local Shout Outs, where we create and promote video content to enhance their visibility. Additionally, we run Get Local Connect Network Groups, where business owners meet bi-weekly to share ideas, strategies, and collaborate on growing their businesses and engaging their communities to support, shop, and buy local.
What I’m most proud of is the tangible difference we make for local entrepreneurs and the communities they serve. We’re not just offering services—we’re building a network of support that drives sustainable growth. By strengthening local businesses, we’re contributing to the prosperity and resilience of the communities we all call home.
What sets us apart is our unwavering focus on the local aspect. Everything we do is centered around local owners and their communities. We are more than just business consultants; we are advocates for local businesses, champions of community growth, and partners in their journey toward success. As Get Local continues to grow and evolve, our commitment remains steadfast: to create a lasting impact and transform the local business landscape for the better.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in a rural area of Greer, SC, surrounded by farmland, where my days were spent playing outside, riding bikes with friends until the sun went down. My father was a hardworking man who provided for our family, and he instilled in us the values of hard work, honesty, and integrity—qualities that he believed were the backbone of a good man or woman.
Looking back, I realize I was always an entrepreneur at heart. From a young age, I was seen as responsible and began my first entrepreneurial venture at just 10 years old by babysitting, which was only the beginning. I also earned money by ironing baskets of clothes and selling a rural magazine called Grit in front of stores like Roses and Kmart for a commission. By 14, with my parents’ permission, I started working at a local peach shed sorting peaches and was soon promoted to selling peaches at the front of the store. At 16, I took a job at a cotton mill, working 4 evening hours a day, 6 days a week. I worked there until I graduated high school.
I have always been an avid reader. My parents once purchased a set of encyclopedias, a dictionary, and children’s books from a door-to-door salesman, and I read them every day, cover to cover, repeatedly. Even as a child, I was told that I was a natural-born leader and had a knack for sales—my friends and family would joke that I could talk a buzzard off a trash can.
Family and faith have always been central to who I am. They were important to me growing up and continue to be the guiding principles in my life today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.getlocalsc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getlocal_sc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getlocalsouthcarolina
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@getlocalsc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@getlocal_sc
- Other: https://getlocal.buzzsprout.com
