Cottage Garden, Inc. Owners Named 2008 National Small Business People of the Year - 1st Runner-Up

Angela & Mark Timm of Cottage Garden, Inc.  have been named the Indiana Small Business People of the Year. The Timms were one of the 53 small business leaders across the country to be honored by the Small Business Administration during national ceremonies that took place in Washington D.C., April 21-25, 2008. During the awards ceremony, Angela & Mark were called out as the 1st Runner-Up 2008 National Small Business People of the Year. On April 23, 2008 from the East Room of the White House, President George Bush told the story of Cottage Garden and its owners. He explained, “She started a company in her home that sells music boxes and framed messages that offer words of hope and inspiration. She's gone through what a lot of other small business owners go through, which is good times and bad times”

As the Indianapolis Star describes, “1996 was a humble beginning for cottage garden” The Company was started in a two car garage with a seemingly simple approach, making it nearly impossible to say no to the Timms' philosophy: fair price, free fixture, excellent customer service and guaranteed sale.

Over a decade later, Cottage Garden’s real estate approach to selling hasn’t changed - many of its products have a timeless, “retail life”. In fact, products released in 1996 are still being replenished today! 

Presently, Cottage Garden is the leading manufacturer of sentiment based music boxes and musical frames, in North America and abroad. The Company’s innovative product development programs are set in motion by interpreting current market trends, as well as customer and sales representative feedback about existing product. The success of every Cottage Garden product is based on a simple goal: how well will it translate for the consumer – and ultimately check out at the register. A true competitive advantage for Cottage Garden is its ability to develop and market products that can be sold to retailers in nearly all classes-of-trade and for many special occasions and seasons.  The Company's floor display fixtures are at the core of this concept.  Retailers find Cottage Garden’s “small-footprint” fixtures to be attractive, practical and an easy fit in their retail environments.  All the products in the Company's display programs can be swapped out with new or stronger selling designs - should turnover slow or items not sell.  Thus, items are all replenished-based and reordered on a consistent basis. 

Gail Gesell, Small Business Administration Director, describes Cottage Garden as "The team overcame the economic impact of 9/11 and later, a tornado, to create a business selling products in six countries. Equally important is the impact Cottage Garden has as the major employer in Bainbridge." Angela Timm, one of the owners, has only one comment to it: "We work together as a team. You know, this isn't my company. This isn't my husband's company. The Company belongs to about 30 people who, every day, dedicate their hard work to Cottage Garden by providing excellent customer service, creating product, processing orders and simply helping where help is needed."

Below are a few links highlighting our award:

Speech given by President Bush:
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Video

Recognition from Senator Lugar

Recognition from the U.S. Small Business Administration

Article from The Indianapolis Star

Inside Indiana Business

Indiana Small Business Development Center