MURRELLS INLET, SC (WMBF) – During these uncertain times, some families are doing everything they can to survive.
For a family, this means balancing three businesses at the same time during the pandemic.
Laura Inkpen is the owner of Yard Greetings on the Grand Strand. The company specializes in commemorative plaques for all occasions for families, including birthdays, graduations and childbirths.
But Inkpen said there is a bigger message behind these signs: hope.
“I’m a single mom,” said Inkpen. “This is a way to bring joy to all companies.”
In addition to Yard Greetings, Inkpen also owns a pet sitting company called MICritter Sitters and Balloons on the Grand Strand.
Inkpen said she started the pet sitting business first. Then the pandemic hit and business stopped for people who were not traveling, which she said left her unemployed for almost two months.
“I had no money coming in and of course I had to ask to be unemployed,” said Inkpen.
Unemployment is something that thousands of South Carolina residents experienced during the emergence of COVID-19.
The SC Department of Employment and Labor reports that the state’s unemployment rate in March 2020 jumped from 3.0% to 12.2% in April. During the same period, Horry County’s unemployment rate increased from 3.9% to 22.5%.
The latest DEW data reports, in December 2020, the unemployment rate for the state is 4.6%. It is 6.1% in Horry County.
These data show that the tide of unemployment has shifted for many residents, including Laura Inkpen.
“I like to be productive,” said Inkpen.
After being unemployed for a few months, Inkpen and his 13-year-old daughter joined forces to start greeting the backyard and the balloon company.
She said that in addition to staying afloat, their goal with the yard and balloon business is to bring their services to families looking to bring joy to loved ones during a pandemic.
For example, the company just supplied balloons for a retirement home on Valentine’s Day.
Inkpen and his daughter also created a garden sign for a veteran on his 90th birthday.
“It was fun,” said Nancy, daughter of the Inkpen. “We are happy that other people can be happy.”
Inkpen said she did not intend to have three businesses now during the pandemic, but is excited to have been able to launch them.
She hopes their story will encourage more people in the community not to give up on their dreams during these difficult times.
“Look, life is about adaptation, so when we get different cards, we just roll with them,” said Inkpen. “This is something that we [put] together and it’s a positive thing. Now, this is what people need ”.
For more information about Yard Greetings on the Grand Strand or other companies, contact Inkpen on the business websites or Facebook page.
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