Success Stories

State: Washington
Center: Washington SBDC
Client: John Lyman

The Carlton General Store on two-lane Highway 153 heading toward Twisp and Winthrop looks like a throwback to an earlier time, with a false front on the weathered, wood-plank building and hand-painted signs advertising bait, ice and gas. But how to explain the wintertime yoga classes held alongside the ice cream display case, or the Kombucha in the coolers alongside Pabst Blue Ribbon, the quinoa a short distance from the Spam?

It’s all part of owner Jeff Lyman’s plan to create a 21st century general store for the diverse residents of his rural community who share a love of the outdoors and the Methow Valley. In mid-June the store’s Facebook page had 365 “likes,” which is about the population of Carlton, Lyman said, maybe more. Recent posts included shout-outs to local organic eggs, fresh-picked morels, and hot dogs for $1.50.

“This is a local’s place,” Lyman said. “There are very few out-of-towner’s here.” Until buying the General Store in December 2011, Lyman was an out-of-towner himself, albeit one with long ties to the area. An avid outdoorsman with a history of working hard to support his fishing habit, Lyman had first visited the Methow Valley with his family when he was a teen and had returned many times since then. (more…)

State: Washington
Center: Vancouver SBDC
Client Name: Natalie Fairchild

Just five years after creating Pacific Perks, a “personal cafe” start-up, Jim and Natalie Fairchild are in the enviable position of owning a business that isn’t just sustainable, but scalable. Ask her where she wants to be in five years and Natalie says she is of two minds: build an empire or maintain a life-work balance?

A goal of $1 million in revenues is not unrealistic, she said, depending on how hard they want to work. That’s a fair question, especially since Jim was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998 and left his high-powered job in sports marketing in 2007 so that he could achieve a healthier lifestyle.

They started with one espresso cart and a business plan that promised clients a personal barista to make coffee drinks for two hours for $300, with no drink limits and no extra charges. They’ve grown to six carts and can now provide mobile service for omelets, smoothies, quesadillas and ice cream sundaes, in addition to the espresso service. (more…)

State: Idaho
Center: Idaho SBDC, Region IV
Client Name: Dr. Jill’s Chiropractic Treatment Center

Dr. Jill Adepoju knew from the time she was 16 that she wanted to be a chiropractor. Her father and brother were in the profession and she grew up working in her father’s office. She witnessed all of the people he was able to help and knew it was the profession she wanted to pursue.

While in college, Jill began writing a business plan. Jill first became a client of the College of Southern Idaho Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as a workshop enrollee in the Center’s Small Business Boot Camp.

With the help of the SBDC, she received a small loan from an SBDC partner, Region IV Development Corporation, to fund start-up costs, leasehold improvements and purchase equipment. The Idaho SBDC also assisted Dr. Adepoju in enhancing her business plan with market research centered around her treatment specialization in family health.

Business Name: Uni-Ref/United Refractories
Client: Fred Daniels, VP Operations

Assistance provided: Access to capital; incentives, human resources
Results: Relocation to Indiana, purchase of new building, purchase of new equipment, increase in market share

Trevor Lane, with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, contacted SEISBDC business advisor Kelly Will in 2012 with regard to a company seeking to move their operations from Ohio to Indiana. As there were incentives associated with the project, Will was asked to perform a financial analysis on the company and worked with Vice President of Operations Fred Daniels.

Uni-Ref, a subsidiary of United Refractories Co., designs innovative, durable refractories with a focus on customer-specific needs and application. United Refractories was founded in 1973 by Raymond Niesen, who later started a manufacturing facility (Uni-Ref) in Cincinnati in 1882. By 2011, they had outgrown their current facilities in Sharonville, Ohio, and had a need for more space. Current expansion of the Sharonville plant was explored as well as moving to another larger facility. (more…)