Question

What does Jennifer Peters do on a typical day?

Career Connection

Name: Jennifer Peters

Company: Seattle Plastics, Inc.

Job Title: Owner

What is your business?

My business is a custom plastic fabricator that specializes in displays for the retail industry.



Who are your customers?

My clients include Nordstrom, Sur La Table and Starbucks.



What do you spend most of your time doing?

My day is a combination of marketing, which includes monitoring our online advertisers such as Google and Bing, answering e-mail inquiries, following up on quotes and making sure orders are shipped on time. I’m also responsible for invoicing customers, processing payables and answering the phone. When you own a small business, you do everything. And that includes cleaning the office.



What was it that first attracted you to a small business?

When I was nine years old, I knew I wanted to own my own business because I set up small “businesses” within my family. Instead of playing with dolls, I was positioning a drink stand for maximum visibility and profit in our neighborhood.



What types of business projects do you work on?

This week I am working with a large online retailer that will potentially carry our products. Last week, I wrote a letter to a specific industry introducing a new line of products we developed, and sent out samples of that product to customers I thought would potentially use this product. And, today I got an order for them. Next week? If I’m not thinking about where the next order will come from, I’m not doing my job.



What resources do you use in your work (software, equipment, reference materials, websites, etc.)?

Google search ads that direct customers to our website is our primary marketing tool. Second is good old fashioned “word of mouth.” We have a good reputation and that is priceless.

What were you most surprised about when you started working in a small business?

What surprised me the most was how many hours would be spent working on getting the business to be successful. The next surprise was how much I loved it.



What are some of your favorite parts of your job?

When a job is complete, the invoice is sent and the customer is happy, I give myself just a few seconds to feel good. And then? We’re on to the next project/sale/order. But I always feel good knowing we provided a good product that was well made.



What are some of the biggest challenges of your business?

The amount of time it takes so to run a small business is a huge struggle. Cash flow is also a big challenge and after that is managing growth and employees.



What are you most proud of?

Every week when I hand our employees a paycheck, I am proud. I love knowing I’m helping pay a mortgage, bills, etc.



What kind of educational background or training did you need to get started working? (Please include degrees, certificates, or training resources, if any.)

I have a B.A. from the University of Washington in Political Science and after college, I decided to pursue a career in sales. It was that combination that allowed me to take the next step to owning my own business. It takes smarts and an ability to sell to be successful.



In your business, what qualities are most important for success?

Tenacity, creativity, long hours and faith.



What advice do you have for someone interested in getting started working in a small business?

Whatever you decide to do, you really need to love what you’re doing. Pick something you love or that nobody else wants to do. And then… stay with it.

Answer 1

On a typical day Jennifer Peters wears many hats as the owner of a small custom-plastics fabrication business. Her work mixes marketing and sales, operations, and basic office/financial tasks.

Typical daily activities
- Monitor online advertising (Google, Bing) and other marketing efforts.
- Answer e‑mails and phone inquiries; follow up on quotes and leads.
- Coordinate orders and shipping to make sure customer orders go out on time.
- Invoice customers and process payables.
- Work on business development (outreach to retailers, sending samples, pursuing new accounts).
- Handle general office duties (including cleaning and other day-to-day upkeep).
- Oversee employees and payroll tasks (ensuring staff get paid).

She emphasizes long hours, constant attention to where the next order will come from, and taking a few seconds of satisfaction when a job is completed and the customer is happy.