AI for small business: How Mannequin Madness found a new partner in AI
Judi Henderson takes online courses in Oakland, CA. Photo credit: Gabriela Hasbun
At a glance
Judi Henderson has “always been curious about the next, newest thing.” That’s how she found herself buying a single mannequin in 1999 for an art project—and ended up an entrepreneur.
Henderson, 69, is the owner of Mannequin Madness, a thriving mannequin sales, rental and recycling business in Oakland, California. The business has grown thanks in part to her willingness to keep learning about new technology, from digital marketing and social media to practical AI tools for small businesses. Verizon’s free skill-development programs have helped her build those skills and put them to work in her business.
Henderson’s experience illustrates the kind of practical skill-building the Verizon Small Business AI Accelerator aims to provide to small-business owners over the course of the 12-week immersive program. Small-business owners can explore Verizon’s free AI courses and resources to discover new ways to put AI to work.
How digital skills helped this small business reach more customers
Henderson with her mannequins. Photo credit: Gabriela Hasbun
When Henderson launched Mannequin Madness, the internet was still relatively new and social media didn’t exist as a marketing tool. Learning to embrace new technology became essential to reaching customers beyond her local market.
“When I first got into the business, many of my competitors were slow to embrace technology. They are no longer around,” Henderson says. “[Embracing technology] allowed me to reach a much broader audience. I couldn’t survive on my local customers only.”
Mannequin Madness is a specialized business. On a day-to-day basis, Henderson might be loaning her mannequins, typically recycled from department stores, to fashion students and luxury stores or providing them for events. Sometimes her warehouse is rented for photo or video shoots, too.
Free online courses and events through Verizon Small Business Digital Ready have helped Henderson sharpen her digital marketing skills, including determining which social media platforms are most strategic for her business. “[They] allowed me to really zero in on where’s the best place for me to spend my time and money,” Henderson says.
How this small-business owner uses AI tools for her website and content creation
With inspiration from Verizon’s skill development courses, Henderson has embraced AI as a tool for business. “I, like many business owners, felt a little scared of AI,” she says. “But I decided to be curious to find out what was there.”
Now, she uses AI tools to generate images for her website, automate tasks, respond to customers, prepare for vendors and create content for her blog. She estimates using AI gives her back 20% more time in productivity alone.
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AI is my new friend. It’s just like having another staff member.
“AI is my new friend. It’s just like having another staff member and it’s available 24/7,” Henderson says. “And I’m pretty sure if I had not initially taken some of those courses on AI in the program, I would not be embracing it with as much gusto as I am now.”
Beyond learning new skills, Henderson has also made sure her business stays connected with the right technology. She’s a Verizon Business customer, using mobile devices, a tablet and a smartwatch to manage her growing operations. “They upgraded my equipment with signing up for a [promotional business] package,” Henderson says. “So I now have an updated phone, especially great for taking photos, which are critical for my business.”
Practical AI learning for what comes next
As the retail landscape changes, Henderson is dedicated to changing with it. “AI [feels] like a whole new world, and I like that it gets me excited,” she says. “I feel like I could be on the cutting edge of something and that is appealing to me.”
That appetite for learning also motivated Henderson to take advantage of Verizon’s live coaching events, as well as one-on-one reviews with small-business experts. She appreciated seeing people of all ages and races taking part. “You can see people who kind of look like you, who are giving you advice. I like that,” she says.
“I’m amazed that something that’s free has so much value,” Henderson says. “Verizon gives us the tools we need, making sure small businesses are not left behind.”
Discover free AI courses and resources designed to help small-business owners put AI to work.
An individual user’s experience may vary and results are not guaranteed.
