Orem SBDC Success Stories: May 2008

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Law's Lawn Care

The key to success for Law’s Lawn Care has been customer service, customer service, customer service. Ryann Law, company founder and president says the growth his business has experience has come primarily from “wearing himself out” in making sure the company’s customers are happy with the service they receive. In the beginning, Ryann understood that it was important, with this type of company, to contact and connect with his customers in a meaningful way. With his gregarious personality and instant smile, Ryann quickly gained the trust and respect of his client base. His initial marketing strategy of door-to-door contacting is proving to be tremendously successful.

Law’s Lawn Care also has found success as they’ve established personal relationships with all of their clients. This type of relationship goes far beyond typical lawn care company services. For instance, Ryann and his company keep detailed records of each client they serve and whenever possible employees are encouraged to address the client by name when communicating with them. The company also encourages employees to “go the extra mile” by asking clients for their specific preferences in regards to the services they receive. These two strategies have significantly set this company apart from their competition.

Law’s Lawn Care funding has come from self funds. Initially, Ryann agonized over the option to self fund. However, after a few months of being in business, the company’s profits grew substantially. It was then that Ryann knew this funding method would be a success. The first six months of company revenues were $14,500 which the company used to purchase additional equipment. This equipment allowed Law’s Lawn Care to expand their service offering and shortly thereafter they hired their first employee.

As far as the future goes, Law’s Lawn Care continues to develop company strategies based on their core competency - customer service. Future company plans include aggressive growth tactics designed to transition Law’s Lawn Care into a large competitor in the lawn care and landscaping industry. As for the short term, company goals include: hiring two maintenance crews to keep up with company demand, doubling their revenue stream, and allowing the founder and president, Ryann Law, to refocus his efforts on future planning and business strategies.

The Orem SBDC has been instrumental in the success of Law’s Lawn Care. The Center has assisted Ryann with Marketing Strategies, Training Classes, Employee Regulations, and Tax Consulting. With this joint partnership Ryann Law knows he has the keys to ensure his business success.

Katumba's Day Spa & Salon

Katumba’s Day Spa & Salon

“Katumba is derived from an old South Pacific word meaning beautiful. My father served there in World War II. He later named his cabinet making business Katumba’s. In honor of my father I have carried on his name to my business in hopes to give you the same breath taking service he gave to his clients. My name is Floralyn and Katumba’s Day Spa and Salon is a dream I have had since I became a Cosmetologist. I worked at the same salon for 13 years and didn’t feel like I was providing my clients everything I had to offer. After several years my husband and friends finally convinced me that I had the potential to start a salon that would be beautiful and successful. Katumba’s was founded on the idea that everyone has the ability to do whatever they put their mind to.”

When Floralyn Martinez first came into the Orem Small Business Development Center and told us about her dream, we were very anxious to assist her. Floralyn’s determination and stick-to-itiveness impressed us. There were many challenges to overcome as Floralyn began the process of starting her business. The first major obstacle was funding. As a result of some difficult personal financial hardships Floralyn and her husband had declared bankruptcy several years before and no bank was willing to fund them. However, with the assistance of the Orem SBDC Floralyn was able to successfully obtain two local economic development loans. The $40,000 she received from these loans carried her through the startup phase of her business.

The Orem Small Business Development Center also helped Floralyn with her financial projections. This included estimating her startup costs, inventory costs, monthly sales, and working capital. Once her projections were complete the center helped her write her business plan, which included multiple revisions for her different funding partners.

Since that time, Floralyn says she has learned many important aspects of being a business owner. She has learned that:
1. Everything is more expensive then you think it is going to be.
2. You have to keep a positive perspective on everything you do in the business.
3. As a business owner you need to build a good support team to assist you.

Part of Floralyn’s support team has been the Orem SBDC. When asked about her experience with the Orem SBDC Floralyn said, “Ken made me feel like I was on top of the world and that I could do anything. I also felt at peace with him immediately. The Orem SBDC has a relaxing office environment. So as a client, I didn’t feel intimidated. Ken never let me get discouraged and he is always so positive. When you start getting discouraged he tackles the issues behind the discouragement and you work together to find solutions.”

SBDC In The Spotlight

The Orem Small Business Development Center, located just west of Utah Valley University, assists startup business owners and entrepreneurs to navigate the often treacherous waters of becoming self employed. Among the center's staff are (left to right) consultants Eddy Yujra, Marynika Miche , director Ken Fakler, consultant Camille Pendleton, and administrative assistant, Karen Wenn. Michael Rigert - NORTH COUNTY STAFF With the economic turmoil depleting personal finances, displacing employees and forcing some to seek new career paths, more and more Utah County residents are turning to self-employment to support themselves and their families. Floralyn Martinez, a master hair stylist for 17 years, researched the possibility of opening her own salon last summer. It was at that time that she came into contact with the Orem Small Business Development Center located just west of Utah Valley University. She didn't have a clue about the steps to starting her own business."I'm an artist behind the chair, but I'm computer illiterate," she said. "I was either going to start up my own place or go to another salon."A free resource provided to entrepreneurs, startup businesses and existing merchants, the Orem Small Business Development Center is one in a network of such centers across the state tasked with not only helping the self-employed get into business, but stay in business, said Ken Fakler, the Orem center's managing director.Funded through the Small Business Administration, the state of Utah and Utah Valley University, the Orem center assists clients in applying for SBA loans, putting together a business plan, doing market research and strategies, and learning the nuts and bolts of business ownership. It serves clients in both Utah and Wasatch counties.Martinez said Fakler and Orem center consultant Laurie Ann Thomas taught her how to write up a business proposal, where to find resources and apply for funding, and how to navigate the often treacherous waters of self employment.In October, Martinez and her husband, Marcos, opened Katumba's Day Spa and Salon, 1015 S. State St. in Orem, which offers a wide range of services from hair styling, massage therapy, skin care and aesthetics. Their salon employs a full staff of stylists and therapists, and business is slowly but steadily increasing, she said."Ken is absolutely incredible and knows what he's talking about," Martinez said. "It was a huge, huge help. I would say they are a major aspect of getting me started."With the housing slump and high gas and food prices hurting businesses and residents, Fakler said the center has seen a large influx of clients in recent months. From the newly unemployed to people looking to earn some income on the side, the center's clients come from all walks of life and range from college-age students to people in their 70s.The center supports clients who own businesses with dozens of employees to stay-at-home moms who want to take their eBay sales to the next level.The center works with about 35 to 40 new businesses a month, or nearly 500 per year. About 50 percent of the center's clients are women, Thomas said."It's really an entrepreneurial area," she said.Because approximately 80 percent of small businesses go under in the first five years, the center stresses the importance of formulating a strong business plan and funding options as well as forming a long-term relationship with owners to continue to provide advice as their companies grow. The center also offers free classes on a variety of related topics taught by professionals."We have very, very few businesses that go broke if they're doing the things we ask them to do," Fakler said.Just two weeks ago, Martinez said Fakler stopped by her salon to inquire about her business's progress and see if there was anything he could do to help. Without the assistance of resources like the Orem Small Business Development Center, she doubts if she would have taken the risk of living out her dream."I would have probably ended up going to another salon," she said. "I wouldn't have had the guts to try to go out on my own."