Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!
You're IT The Legacy Project USA!
Three questions with Rozanne Gates, founder of The Legacy Project USA.
Why did you start your business?
In 2008, there was a devastating financial breakdown in this country. At the time, I was working as Director of Development at the Fairfield Theatre Company. FTC was struck by the financial crisis. Several of the staff at FTC had to be let go, including me. As of July 2009, I was unemployed. But, I had a huge desire to continue working. One night at dinner, my wife and I were talking about our parents and the fact that both of us were “parentless” and that we each missed our parents and the sound of their voice. My mother used to sit at the table in the den of our house and reminisce with her sisters about their growing up years. My mother had lots of photo books that they would put on the table and start laughing before they even opened the book. I wish I had recorded those stories. And it occurred to us that other people probably feel the same way about their lives.
As we talked, we didn’t quite know it then, but we were sowing the seeds of an idea for a business. My wife is a brilliant photographer and has been in business in Fairfield County for more than 20 years. As we talked about the idea of creating a business to let people tell the stories of their lives, we decided to ask some of our friends’ parents if we could use their parents as guinea pigs. We came up with the name “The Legacy Project USA,” we secured an internet domain and hired a website designer, we came up with a business plan, and we went to our friend's parents to conduct the life story interviews and create photo-documentary books with their photos and important documents. What we discovered is that the process of telling your life story has a profound impact on the person who is telling the story. It is almost rejuvenating and certainly validating.
We loved it, and they loved it. So we decided to put it all in motion, full-tilt boogie as they say. The first month we were in business, our bank gave us a table in their lobby to advertise our products. We went to some of our friends in local newspapers and asked them to write a story about us. We created a Facebook page and spoke at many Senior Centers and Assisted Living homes. We are now in our 10th year of business, and every new project is a blessing to us, but most of all, to the person whose legacy is being documented.
I wish I could record and document every person’s life story. Within each person is a different perspective on life and history. It is amazing what we can learn from each other just by asking questions.
What is your best selling product/service?
Our best-selling product is what we refer to as an “Interviewography,” which is a hard-bound book created from the interviews I conduct with the client. We also include their personal photos and documents. Sometimes I write a memoir based on the interviews we have done. It is the gift of a lifetime and something we hope more people will take advantage of.
The Legacy Project USA is located at 277A North Ave. in Westport. Visit The Legacy Project USA online here.
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!