Jim Risch: “during Small Business Week it is important to recognize the ingenuity of small business owners who take a leap of faith…”

“during Small Business Week it is important to recognize the ingenuity of small business owners who take a leap of faith and invest in an idea in order to make their dream of being an entrepreneur a reality. I rise today to honor The Nehemian of Buhl, ID, a small business that has shown over the course of 25 years in business that they can take chances and survive in this economic climate. Over 26 years ago, Nancy Tyrrell and her husband, Ed, opened The Nehemian, a shop that sold antiques and offered custom picture framing. But after years of being in business, the Tyrrells wanted to expand their services and increase their sales. Tyrrell began designing custom key fobs which depict Idaho points of pride, including the Boise State Broncos and the University of Idaho Vandals. As a result of this risk to produce and market new product, The Nehemian found great success in the sale of these local treasures. Tyrrell has faced her share of entrepreneurial challenges. After a $25,000 loss on a project, Tyrrell considered going back to teaching instead of continuing as a small business owner. But her love for the creative opportunities her business provided convinced her that she wouldn't be happy doing anything else. Instead of giving up, Tyrrell rededicated herself to her store and sought to expand into an untapped market. Her custom key fobs are manufactured by Silver Creek Mint, another local business located in Buhl and where her son is employed.…”