Cheshire Business Honored With Microenterprise Of The Year Award

CHESHIRE, CT — After being part of a company-wide layoff in the medical field, Carol DiCarlo took her work experience and love of horses to launch a new business in Cheshire.

Now, nearly five years later, DiCarlo is part of a small business success story.

In what became a dream come true, DiCarlo opened the Cheshire Equestrian Center at 116 South Main St. in Sept. 2018.

DiCarlo was recently honored with the Microenterprise of the Year Award from the Small Business Administration and CBIA.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) recently visited the Cheshire Equestrian Center, and DiCarlo received a citation from the U.S. Senate and U.S. Congress for the award.

“It was a great honor to have Senator Blumenthal to take the time to visit,” DiCarlo said. “He realizes all of the obstacles you encounter when you start your own business. I made it despite the statistics that are against me. I didn’t realize that small businesses employ over 40 percent of the workforce in the U.S., too.”

DiCarlo said that she has a “wonderful mentor” in Mary Kay Della Camera from the Connecticut Small Business Development Center.

“She has assisted me along the way with great opportunities for funding and resources that are available in our state,” DiCarlo said.

Before opening her own business, DiCarlo’s background was in healthcare. She is an RN with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management and a Master’s of Science in Healthcare Administration. She worked as an RN Clinical Consultant for seven years and was a surgical services nursing manager and director for 10 years.

She was part of a company-wide layoff for Hill-Rom and decided to run her own business.

“I always wanted to run my own business and apply everything I learned from my medical background in the OR,” DiCarlo said.

DiCarlo said her background was helpful in understanding how a business worked.

“I always had a passion and love of horses and had two of my own,” she said.

DiCarlo said she saw a need for a tack shop in Central Connecticut.

“I wanted to have items that catered more to the dressage rider because the big chain stores did not,” she said. “I love the European styling and wanted to have better choices you can’t find in your typical tack shop.”

DiCarlo was forced to close the store for three months at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was able to stay afloat with PPP loans, EIDL grants, and unemployment for small businesses,” she said. “I used my nursing skills, too. I volunteered with the local health department in Cheshire to administer Covid vaccines. It kept me busy and I was able to help out in town during the pandemic.”

DiCarlo advised anyone starting a new business to use the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC), the local chamber of commerce, and other free resources available through the state.

“There is a lot out there if you are willing to ask and apply,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions from the people you would be serving, too. I visited barns and handed out my business cards. I did my homework by attending the top competitions in Florida and elsewhere to see what items are selling and popular.

“I won’t lie, it has been a challenge. I love what I do, so that makes up for the stressful times. I really appreciate the great customers’ we have and never take it for granted.”

For more information about the Cheshire Equestrian Center, visit its website here and on Facebook here.