Yesterday marked 45 years of business for Nelson Schmidt and I, for one, am in awe. It’s not easy starting a business, let alone a small, independent marketing agency. According to the Small Business Association, only about 66% of businesses survive their first two years. Conversely, one-third of businesses fail in the first two years, and only about 50% make it past year five. Those odds can be pretty nerve-wracking for someone just starting out. As a business owner, there are times you will feel the weight of your company falling on your shoulders, but it is important to remember that you are not alone in your journey.
After 45 years of business, I know that Nelson Schmidt has not survived solely due to the actions of whoever is in charge. Without the help of the numerous employees who have served throughout the years and our faithful clients who’ve trusted us to solve their marketing challenges, we would not have a business. So I reflect upon this anniversary with thanks. Thank you to Ken Schmidt for building this foundation as the Ken Schmidt Company in 1971 and seeing the company through 17 years of growth. Thank you to my father, Dan Nelson Sr., who purchased the agency in 1988 for further contributing to the dream Ken started. And thank you to everyone who has made an impact along the way, employees and clients alike, for without all of you, this celebration would not be possible.
We ended the day on a high note, celebrating with cake and champagne, connected to our Madison office through a computer screen and Sr. via FaceTime (funny, neither would have even been imaginable in 1971). Enjoy a few party pics below or head over to our Facebook page to see the whole shebang.
Originally Published 2016
