Let’s meet Sharon Hairston-King, one of the people we know:

1. Please provide a brief history or your current business or expertise.

I am the owner of Hairston & Associates, a small, growing insurance agency; we have been in business for almost 20 years and during that time we have sought to have a positive influence on the           Houston community.

We offer commercial coverage for businesses large and small as well as personal line(s) insurance coverage for home, life, auto, and medical.

2. What are your specialty or target markets?

Although we service all markets in the greater Houston area, our focus for 2010 is women owned businesses. This is not to say we we will avoid other markets, but we recognize the growing strength of this business community and we would like to participate in helping it expand.

3. What are the greatest challenges facing your clients presently?

The greatest challenge facing our clients today are primarily financial; meeting budgets, maintaining payroll, paying overhead costs and other monthly expenditures. Our clients are no different than much of America today; they are trying to maintain a sense of balance in an unbalanced economic environment.

4. What advice do you give clients or potential clients to overcome these challenges?

At Hairston & Associates we tell clients that it is key to keep a positive outlook in the face of adversity. I like to say “as long as we can turn the key in the door to open up, there is hope.”  America is no stranger to difficult economic times; we have survived them before and we will continue to persevere.

5. What positive aspects do you see in your market given the current economic climate?

Our market has the unique ability to get better as times get more difficult. The tendency for most people under economic duress is to try and protect their possessions. Insurance not only serves to give them peace of mind during such periods, but it also protects them from the possibility of loss.

6. What is your outlook for the remainder of the year? Next Year?

The outlook at Hairston & Associates for the remainder of the year is positive. From all indications, we are making small strides towards turning around the problems we’ve faced over the last couple of years.  There is still much work ahead but we remain confident in the turn around.

For next year we see more need for hard work and continued hope. However, with the grace of God and a continued focus on our clients, I have no reason to believe 2011 will be anything less then great for our business and the economy in general

7. What separates you from your competition?

I think what separates us from the competition is the continued commitment to provide the type of customer service that our clients would find hard to replace.  We seek to make out clients feel they are a valuable part of our agency and not just a policy number.  Are we successful all the time? No, but when you’ve failed and honestly try to make amends your clients appreciate the efforts.

8. What is the greatest satisfaction you get from operating your business?

My greatest satisfaction comes from retaining satisfied clients and being able to place the business with a carrier that is affordable for the insured during any market condition.

9. What are some points you hope clients take away from their initial meeting with you?After conducting and completing business with you and your firm?

I hope my clients feel my sincerity in trying to provide them a valuable and protective service. I hope they feel the joy I have in knowing our agency has a variety of insurance products available for their various needs at competitive prices. I hope they walk out of our offices with the feeling that our business matters to us, because it does.

10. How may people contact you?

Sharon Hairston-King can be contacted at Hairston & Associates, 281.257.0252.  Feel free to call or stop by their office at 8701 Spring Cypress, Ste B, Spring, Texas. You can find them in the Yellow Pages under Insurance Providers or on the web at, www.hairstonassociates.com.

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