Local Business- 'Engine Of Recovery' for Abilene
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: May 15, 2012
"We've been booked for months and months and months- six months probably," said owner Terry Browder.
In fact, Browder has had to turn down more than 100 people.
He's had guests from around the nation and even other countries stay.
"From London, Houston, Dallas all of that," said Browder.
Browder owns Sayles ranch guesthouses- about 10 homes all around Abilene that he rents for $150-$475.
He says May is one of the busiest months with graduations and other local events and he has the internet to thank for his booming business.
"The internet brings people to our door literally and our door is what we have to offer," said the owner of eight years.
Browder isn't the only one, as local business in Abilene is on the rise and the internet is helping many get the clients they need.
"It's a way of reaching a much larger audience and introducing your business and any specials that you have," said Mike McMahan, president of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.
More than $32 billion in revenue in Texas alone is all thanks to online business.
McMahan says local businesses are key to sustaining a city like Abilene.
"It is the engine of recovery" said McMahan, "People are shopping locally, they're looking locally, they're even doing internet searches locally."
All this good business has even helped Browder expand. He's most recently purchased a new home he plans on opening next year.
He says having a website helps him stick out from the competition.
"It's a great place for people to go and look and see pictures of what we have to offer," said Browder.
So now he'll have even more rooms to rent out, and less people to turn down.


