Remember the song from the 70s, “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar”? Women have come a long way since then. Main St USA is filled with businesses owned by women. Walk down Rutherford St. in Landrum and you will see many women owned businesses. But who are these women entrepreneurs? What motivated them to take a chance on themselves, to be their own boss, to often risk life savings? Over the next few months I plan to interview many of these brave women, and listen to them “roar”.

As I walked down Rutherford St. one day, I discovered Olive And Then Some. The green door drew me inside. Surrounded by bottles of oils and balsamics, I asked about the owner. So today, I’m meeting Sandy Burn for lunch at Stone Soup, also a woman-owned business. We identify each other as we enter the restaurant, are seated at a table, order delicious seafood soup and begin a long chat.

Sandy grew up in a military family, which prepared her for a lot of change in life. She started out thinking she would be teacher. “But then I realized I needed more of a challenge. So I went to USC and graduated with a business degree. I worked with Kraft Foods as a sales rep,” she tells me. “But I didn’t give up my dreams of being a teacher. I entered Converse College to pursue a Masters in Education”.

I began to teach children with disabilities. Having a full class of children, all with disabilities was difficult and not productive. So I began my first business, a tutoring business and worked with children individually,” she explains. “ I felt it was something I could offer that they couldn’t get elsewhere. I also had a small side business and sold pewter at parties and then made my own jewelry. Having a business just seemed to be something natural for me”

Her husband had a work assignment in Ireland. “We spent an interesting year there, travelled all over Europe and even went to Finland’s North Pole. They take you on dog sleds into the woods to find Santa,” she chuckles as she remembers. “I loved Ireland, but a year was enough. I returned and started subbing. Then the recession hit. Like many others, my husband was laid off from his job and it was a difficult time. During the 18 months that he was looking for work, we discovered an olive oil store. He thought it would be a natural for me and dragged me kicking and screaming into the business. It was a scary thought, but I started with partners. It gave me some level of comfort to have other people to share the responsibility of a business.”

Again, Sandy discovered she was a natural as a business owner. It combined her background in business with her love of teaching. “I love teaching my customers about the oils. During the recession, the oils became a luxury they could afford. Going out to dinner was expensive, but they could cook gourmet meals at home. And I love the marketing of the business,” she smiles. “I now have my own store in Spartanburg with the satellite in Landrum. I work hard. My employees are like family. And, again being a teacher, I like to help other women thinking of starting a business.” Something special happens when women get together. And it’s happening at Olive And Then Some. So when you’re wandering down Rutherford St. in Landrum, look for the green door and stop in for a tasting experience.

Learn more at www.oliveandthensome.com

– Linda List