Building Dreams in Plain City: Matt Spitz on Media, Community, and Growth

In the heart of Plain City, Ohio, Matt Spitz found an opportunity to transform community connections. As the founder of Plain City Living, he’s not only bridging gaps in local media but also offering businesses premier market access. This Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight reveals how Matt’s journey—from a garage-based custom furnishings venture to a dynamic media platform—was fueled by resilience and community spirit. His story is a testament to the power of creativity and tenacity, showing that entrepreneurial success is about more than just business; it's about fostering meaningful relationships and leaving a lasting impact.

Hi, Matt Spitz! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?

So I think my, you know, I spoke a little bit about kind of the sweet season that we've entered into here now. And so that that journey really began about two years ago. And so my family and I were living on the south side of Dayton, Ohio, and we moved to Central Ohio and a little town called Plain City, which is just outside of Dublin, which is up in the northwest corner of Columbus, Central Ohio.

And so Plain City, when we moved, they probably had, I don't know, maybe 5,000 people. But the growth, all of the growth is just moving right to Plain City, and they're planning on 5,000 more homes in that community in the next five to 10 years. And so we hit the ground.

Two years ago, like I mentioned, we immediately started to just get involved in the community. And our kids were involved in sports, and we were trying to build relationships as best we could. And a couple things were apparent right off the bat.

So first, Plain City is an amazing community with amazing people. And so that was apparent right off the bat. And second, the community is exploding.

Third of all, there was no central media platform there. And so just as I, you know, I mentioned earlier, I get to wherever my feet are, I get to look at the world and create and cultivate. And so I thought, you know what, I think there is an opportunity here to fill a void in our community and not only help Plain City feel like home, but also give businesses access and premier market placement to some of the highest value homes and neighborhoods in our community.

Essentially, businesses gain access and market placement to the homes that their businesses depend on. And so we highlight a local family every single month, which if you think about it, I don't know, you know, where you live, I'm sure lots of people that are listening to this podcast or watching, you know, this episode live in communities that your mailboxes get pounded with mailers. They get, you know, inundated with, you know, businesses trying to get in front of your eyeballs, essentially.

And so our platform always features a local family. And so when you're sifting through all the junk mail that hits your mailbox, and you pull out a really high end magazine, really well done, that has a family on it that you know from the community, you are very inclined to crack that magazine open and read it. And so our platform is not designed to just hit your mailbox, it's designed to get into homes in front of about 10,000 readers every single month, and it's designed to stay there.

Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.

In 2019, I had already launched my custom furnishings business but I was working out of my two car garage. I had a restaurant approach me about building out their entire space which I had no space of my own to build it. I told them yes and rented a 26' U-Haul and did the entire restaurant out of the back of that U-Haul parked right in my driveway. I got the job done and the publicity that came with doing the restaurant catapulted my business to the next level. 

Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.

I was working night shift and really struggling with what I was doing with my life. I took some time to really think through what made me come alive and what I enjoyed doing the most and I decided to make the leap! 

We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.

I was working in a sports ministry position and also coaching college football at the same time and suffered a major tear in my right knee tendon. My life stopped dead in its tracks and I was quickly in surgery and rehab. Through that season on being confined to my back and to rehab as my knee healed I decided to transition into a new career of law enforcement. 

What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?

I think I will remember renting that 26' U-haul and working for two days straight with no sleep for a long time. It was maybe the most scrappy thing that I have ever done in business and it ended up catapulting my business forward. 

What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?

So kind of tie in the sports theme back into it, I was able to wake up this morning at about, I don't know, about 10 till six or so, and was able to water ski with my dad this morning. And so just this morning, we're on Norris Lake, sitting, sitting there, it's one of the most beautiful places. And I'm getting ready to ski.

And I'm talking with my dad about, you know, culture, culture is really driven to, it seems that way, anyway, from from the outside looking in, I know there's some amazing people out there. But just the conversation about YOLO came up, you only live once. And, you know, I think just understanding that, you know, I don't, I don't know if I really buy into that.

I don't agree with that. I think I think we live twice, you know, once here, and once, you know, we're all gonna step into eternity at some point. And so yeah, I think if I would give one piece of advice to all the listening entrepreneurs out there, it's like, there, there's so much more going on in your life, and in your family, and in your community, above and beyond just your business.

And, you know, maybe your P&L doesn't look great, or your, you know, things have just been challenging on other levels. But understanding that, you know, we're a part of something that is so much greater than just the shortsightedness of trying to own and operate your own business. There's a lot more going on.

There are people out there that, you know, I feel like really need to just hear kind of the hope and the truth of the gospel. And being a business owner is a giant, influential platform in your community. And so, yeah, not, not to, maybe if I could leave one piece of advice, it would not, not be so shortsighted, and just understand that, you know, our life is a vapor, and we're all going to step into, you know, eternity at some point.

And so, what does that mean for you? You know, for me, that means create and cultivate relational equity, date my wife, usher my kids into adulthood, and, you know, really try to pour my life out and impact community as best I can, you know, with the time that I have.

Want to dive deeper into Matt's work? Check out the links below!

• Visit Plain City Living Magazine's website: bestversionmedia.com/oh/plaincityliving/
• Connect with Matt Spitz on LinkedIn: Matt Spitz
• Follow Plain City Living Magazine on LinkedIn: Plain City Living - Best Version Media
• Find Plain City Living Magazine on Facebook: Plain City Living - Best Version Media