Orem SBDC Success Stories: Essential Under T's

Monday, July 30, 2012

Essential Under T's

Overcoming All Odd’s: Despite Disability, 60-Year-Old Woman Launches Own Business

Essential Under T’s

Orem SBDC

Barbara Read is no stranger to adversity. Eight years ago, as a result of Central Nervous System Vasculitis, Read was diagnosed with a short-term memory impairment that has affected her ability to find sustainable employment. Though Read has been receiving disability pay and services over the last few years, she has yearned to find a means to financially support herself. However, due to her disability and lack of employment over the last five years, Read’s job opportunities are limited.

As a means to achieve financial stability and get off disability pay, Read created a vision to launch her own business, showcasing a clothing product that she conceptualized. The idea was initiated by a personal experience that Read had on a very hot summer day while in church. Read was wearing a chic summer dress that she had layered with a t-shirt for modesty, but found herself hot and sweaty from the added layers. Wishing for a lighter, more breathable, more feminine and formal alternative—the idea for Essential Under T’s was born.

Read has worked tirelessly for two years to bring her vision to life and has since designed a product that offers several unique qualities. The cornerstone feature of Read’s product is a short design, which cuts off just below the chest to avoid un-needed layering over the torso. Essential Under T’s are also distinguished by lace trim, a flattering neckline, and added coverage over the shoulders for strappy dresses and blouses.

To create the product, Read devoted hundreds of hours, including a number of personal trips to the Los Angeles garment district to find an affordable fabric that aligned with her vision. Nearly a year later, with the help of Read’s favorite “lace man” Albert, Read found just what she had been looking for!

In the spring of 2011, Read’s Vocational Rehabilitation counselor referred her to the Orem Small Business Development (SBDC), an organization that helps entrepreneurs formalize and launch small business startups. Read was introduced to Marynika Miche’, a business consultant at the SBDC who helped her write a business plan, put financials together, and complete paperwork for a Vocational Rehabilitation grant that would provide Read with critical startup funds. “The SBDC has been a great blessing in my life. I needed someone to come along and set me on the right course,” said Read. “Marynika worked effortlessly on my Performa income statements, monthly cash flows, and estimated startup costs.”

In June of 2012, Read was awarded a small business startup grant from Vocational Rehabilitation to launch Essential Under T’s. The 22,500-dollar award is a significant milestone for Read’s journey as an entrepreneur—helping cover the much-needed costs associated with prototyping and manufacturing products during the first year of business.

In recognition for her hard work and determination, the Orem SBDC has selected Barbara Read to receive a Small Business Award for the second quarter of 2012. “I believe Barbara has what it takes to make this a success,” said Miche’. “She has worked so hard to create her product and to receive the grant. This hard work and persistence deserves recognition.”

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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."