BUSINESS
Local business trends to follow
2 0 2 2 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E
TOP BUSINESS STORY TO WATCH IN 2022
BUSINESS GROWTH The number of total employer establishments has steadily increased in Montgomery County since 2014.
11,692
10,759
12,500 10,000 7,500 5,000
11,970
11,152
10,282
Several new local businesses such as Glamp Woodlands operate without a storefront. (Courtesy Glamp Woodlands)
2,500
0
Businesses in TheWoodlands operating without o ces, storefronts on the rise BY ALLY BOLENDER
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
WORKING FROMHOME The number of employed persons who work from home in Montgomery County was
More small businesses and startups in The Woodlands area are opting to operate without physical o ces and storefronts, according to local business leaders. J.J. Hollie, president of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has 1,200 members and has seen member growth, welcoming roughly 340 new businesses in the most recent scal year. Hollie said the chamber has also seen an uptick in members that operate as an at-home business or who work remotely. According to the most recent economic data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the self-employed population in Montgomery County increased by about 26% from 2014 to 2019. The number of employed workers in Montgomery County who work from home increased by roughly 68% from 2014 to 2019. “[Some] people are leaving companies because they want to branch out and work on their own. … These are businesses that wouldn’t necessarily need an o ce or a storefront,” Hollie said. New chamber members opted to start their own businesses for a variety of reasons. Hollie said many new business owners looked to escape
lengthy commutes or were uncomfortable with COVID-19 and COVID-19-related corporate policies in the workplace. “One thing that we’ve seen is businesses that cater to the remote worker or a nontraditional brick-and-mortar business. We’ve seen an uptick [in those businesses] as well,” Hollie said. “Busi- nesses like IT companies, remodeling, restoration companies. We’ve seen more activity in that space too. So, it’s really kind of an interesting dynamic ... [COVID-19 has] sort of forced the business com- munity to make changes faster than they normally would have.” Erin Hayes in April opened Glamp Woodlands, a luxury tent rental business that provides canvas bell tents for birthday parties, bridal showers and celebrations. Hayes started Glamp Woodlands after leaving a 15-year career in retail. She said she was drawn to open an online-based business for the exibility. “Anytime you’re operating in a brick-and-mortar location, you’re kind of tied down to when your store is open,” Hayes said. “If you’re opening an online-based business, some people choose to have 24/7 customer support. [Customers] can shop online whenever [they want].”
increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees who work from home increased by 68% from 2014 to 2019.
20,000
12,131
10,956
15,000
18,388
10,000
13,394
11,137
5,000
0
2014 2015 2016 2017
2018 2019
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Hayes said there are a variety of bene ts available for business owners when operating without the obligations of a commercial real estate lease, such as lower startup and operating costs as well as exible operating hours. “It’s easier to function out of your own home or in an online presence,” Hayes said. “Flexibility and being able to work from anywhere is a fantastic bene t to have right now.”
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION • JANUARY 2022
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