Visit Dardi Jarman’s office on Broad Street–she makes you feel relaxed. It is a welcoming experience, like stepping into your living room. Her mother greets and immediately treats you as a neighbor. Like mother, like daughter.
Dardi Jarman Insurance Agency is a full-service company that provides a variety of insurance products that are handpicked to serve the individual needs of each client. She is driven to educate clients that insurance isn’t out of reach and it can be an important tool to mitigate life’s risks and provide a legacy–something Dardi calls “Love Insurance.” Her ideal clients span a wide age range, with a focus on couples 25-45 years old who have children.
Dardi launched her independent insurance agency in 2015 as a 100% women-owned C-Corporation. She had 13 years of experience with a well-known insurer and had also attended Small Business Center classes in the early 2000s. This, along with valued mentors, really helped Dardi prepare for small business ownership. Her mission is to provide awareness and education about the value of insurance in one’s life and beyond. While it has required hard work, along with navigation of typical entrepreneurial opportunity and adversity, she said she enjoys the freedom and flexibility of having her own business.
Her biggest challenge is being overwhelmed in handling interest in her services. She drives interest in her business through free education workshops, a website, business cards, churches, and social media such as Facebook Live videos.
Her milestones have been getting through her first year and now having a staffed agency. She plans to continue growing to employ a team of insurance agents within the next three years. She envisions expanding to multiple offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Dardi said her key success factors as a small business owner have been:
- Be true to who you are
- Be coachable
- Research your industry
- Network
- Pray before you do any of these to know you are going in the right direction
Dardi has also started an organization, Diamonds of Encouragement, which is focused on encouraging women and youth to be the best they can be through workshops. The future nonprofit is also raising money to help families at Christmastime, as well as children’s coats, back-to-school supplies, and dances..
Her best advice encourages future entrepreneurs to take action if they have a dream of starting a business, even if it is small.
“Jump and don’t be afraid of how you will land,” she said. “Do something!”
For more information > (252) 658-0801, https://www.facebook.com/dardim1
Deborah Kania, director of the Small Business Center at Craven Community College
