Sunny Day Preschool & Daycare

Ever since Heidi Barker can remember, she wanted to work with children and own her own day care business. When Heidi graduated from college, she started working at the Sunny Day Preschool and Daycare Center in Heber City, Utah. The school had been in existence since 1978, and housed children from 3 months up to 11 years old. Heidi had worked her way up from a teacher to the Director over a period of years.In November 2009,the previous owner decided to sell the business and the house that the Daycare Center was operated from; and she approached Heidi to buy it. The offer was fairly priced, and this was Heidi's chance to own her own business, and buy a house to live in at the same time. She needed to acquire a down payment and she approached the Orem SBDC Center to help her with a business plan to secure a loan.Heidi approached several banks and savings and loans over the next year and a half with her finished business plan, but was turned down. Her credit score was good, but she had no collateral and her income was insufficient to secure a bank loan. Heidi didn't give up - she approached the Utah Micro Enterprise Loan Fund and secured a loan from them; and scrapped together a small amount of cash from friends and relatives to make the down payment for the business only. She then worked a deal with the previous owner to lease the house until she could get a loan for the down payment on the house.On January 3, 2011, she registered the Sunny Day Preschool and Daycare, LLC in her name, retained the four employees, added more children to maximize capacity (she currently has a waiting list of children), updated her license with the State of Utah, and has made a profit ever since.When asked what role the SBDC has played in this, she states, "The Orem SBDC helped me write the business plan, value the business, secure the loan, and negotiate the lease. They made it all possible. When it seemed I would fail, they encouraged me to keep going forward."As a new business owner, Heidi overcame many challenges, like molding the former employees into a cohesive, motivated team, collecting past due invoices, and conforming to the myriad of State regulations.Heidi feels the secret of her success is lots of hard work (13 hour days, 6 days a week) and total "face time" with her employees, the kids, the parents, and the stakeholders. The school is her life and she loves it. Heidi feels the best part of being an entrepreneur and owning her own business is the difference she can make in children's lives. She tells them everyday, "you can overcome all odds - you can do anything you want, just like I did."When Heidi is asked for advice on opening a business, she responds, "Go see the Orem SBDC for help. They will help make your dream come true."

"The Orem SBDC helped me write the business plan, value the business, secure the loan, and negotiate the lease. They made it all possible. When it seemed I would fail, they encouraged me to keep going forward.""you can overcome all odds - you can do anything you want, just like I did."

Heidi feels the secret of her success is lots of hard work (13 hour days, 6 days a week) and total "face time" with her employees, the kids, the parents, and the stakeholders. The school is her life and she loves it. Heidi feels the best part of being an entrepreneur and owning her own business is the difference she can make in children's lives. She tells them everyday, "you can overcome all odds - you can do anything you want, just like I did."

Elsha Rae's Dress Boutique

Angie Lewis and Jan Sanderson had talked about starting a
business together but for years had no idea what kind of business to
start. With high school aged daughters,
they started to notice how many dances there are and how expensive the dresses
were. They also notice that many of those beautiful dresses hung in closets and
the owner didn’t know what to do with them.
Now they had an idea for a business they could run together and truly
enjoy.
Elsha Rae’s Dress Boutique is a formal consignment
boutique. The long racks of beautiful
formal dresses and four fitting rooms take up most of Angie’s basement at her
Mapleton home. After advertising in the fall
of 2010 for formals that could be consigned out, they got many responses and
even have a dress that was shipped from Hawaii.
Jan said that many of the girls didn’t know what consignment meant and
they did a lot of explaining. When a
girl brings in her formal dress, she names it.
Some of the dress names include Neapolitan, Barbie, Jezebel — whatever
the girl wants her dress to be named.
When the dress rents, the owner gets part of the rental fee.
Part of the way Jan and Angie got the word out about the
dress shop was through Facebook. When
they first opened, they offered a free jewelry rental for anyone who rented a
dress and then posted where they rented it on their Facebook page. The social media helped the word spread
quickly through the Springville, Mapleton, and Spanish Fork High schools. The word continues to spread wider in to Utah
Valley and Elsha Rae’s Dress Boutique has its own Facebook page that highlights
girls in dresses and catalogues some of the dresses themselves.
They like being in business especially since they can try
an idea without having to wait for approval from someone else. Both Angie and Jan are enjoying the
challenges of growing their business, and they are glad they have each other to
rely on. “I wouldn’t want to do this by
myself,” Angie said. They both agree
that one of the best parts of their business is seeing the beauty of a girl come
shining through because of the beautiful dress she is wearing.
Before they got started, they came to the Orem SBDC with
questions. “You want to obey all the laws – it was hard to know what all the
laws were.” After getting some answers
to their questions and doing some homework on what they needed. They
transformed Angie’s basement into a dress shop.
“We contacted the SBDC at the very beginning,” Angie said. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”
As their business continues to grow, they know that the
Orem SBDC is there to help. Jan said, “We feel like we can ask people at the
SBDC." For those thinking about
going into business, Jan offers this advice, “Research, research, research! And
go to the SBDC and see Camille.”

Bonneville School of Sailing

Bonneville School of Sailing

Todd and Louise started their sailing school in April 0f 2007. Todd had decided to take an early retirement, he had formerly been BYU's Director of the Visual Art's Department. The sailing school was all Louise's idea. They had been brainstorming so many different ideas, but sailing had been a passion for them both. Todd had first started sailing while in Hawaii in '74. He had been part of the coast Guard in the Army, and learned about helicopter maintenance. There were many underlying similarities with how the water and wind functioned with sails as well as wings. In 2007 the ocuple started developing a curriculum. They wanted something that would be interesting as well as solid and useful. It was important to offer sailing classes that were very hands on.

Todd and Louise feel they went about starting the business backwards. They knew what they wanted and went for it. There has been a fair amount of stress involved, but it has been so rewarding. Working for yourself, you can go further than being under an owner. It has been hard to take risks, since neither Todd or Louise were ever risk takers. But the excitement of accomplishing a goal and broadening the business are so great, and especially when done for yourself.

Todd and Louise say their secret to success is really held in prayer. "Heavenly Father really has made this happen for us. We work hard and do our part, but believe that miracles happen. We are not born business people, but after working and praying at something we have had the right ideas and customers come that we need to further our business success. Heavenly Father helps us step by step by letting us gain the knowledge to run the business as the need provides itself."

Todd and Louise first started coming to the Orem SBDC in August of 2008. "Thanks to the Small Business outfit, we have a wonderful classroom. It's been such a blessing. In the past, we have gone to the Chamber of Commerce and magazine's for space and advertising and it was not helpful. Ken Fakler has encouraged us and given us ideas. From pointint us in the direction of a web page to helping succeed. When discouraged, Ken kept encouraging us and offering more classes to further our education. He has helped us get organized and always knows what to do with employees and advertising. The SBDC also helped greatly getting marketing research and a business ready."

Todd and Louise feel the best part about being an entrepreneur is the excitement of accomplishing things and seeing results happen. There is a lot on the line, and physical demands can no longer be met the same as they were at a younger age, but when you can't quit, you keep on pushing. They are now working on expanding their business to teach classes for kids that are at risk. They recently acquired a boat that used to belong to Roy Disney. It is an ocean racer named "Morning Light". As part of the program for the children that teaches responsibility an dpride, the kids will be learning to make a sail, paint, work on the diesel engine and find out all the details that make it work, all while practicing math and physics to learn how to sail the boat. Todd and Louise feel that courses like this can be very beneficial to kids, and are so hands on that they really hold their attention.

They have also been very involved in the community. They are active members on the Utah Lake Commission Board. This committee has developed courses for fourth graders teaching them about sailing and endangered species that live in and around Utah Lake. They teach the kids about safet issues and how pollution affects the area. They also have programs to draw in youth and couples such as sunset cruises, as well as team building programs that are offered for businesses around the area. Bonneville School of Sailing started out as an idea and a fantasy, and has grown to be a blooming business that is such a wonderful addition to our community.

Bonneville School of Sailing, LLC

Todd and Louise Frye

801-636-5204

www.bonnevillesailing.com

Goodies Cake and Candy Making Supply

Goodies Cake Decorating and Candy Making Supplies
Denise Ferrell
151 North Main Street
Spanish Fork, UT 84660

Goodies in Spanish Fork is a perfect example of how businesses need to constantly be changing with the times. Denise Ferrell originally started her business in Arizona in the early 90’s. At that point in time scented candles that looked and smelled like desserts were the biggest rave. Denise was very successful, but after moving to Utah decided to discontinue the candle business. On September 9, 2009, Denise reopened her candle business on quaint Main Street in Spanish Fork. This time, she had a small corner of the store dedicated to cake and candy making. All September, she only made $250 in sales, all from friends and family, and only from the cake/candy corner. She knew it was time to revamp.
On October 29, 2009 Denise reopened her doors as ‘Goodies,’ this time focusing on cake and candy making. Sales went up over 10 fold with this change in both November and December. But Denise had a problem, she only had enough new inventory to cover the small front room of her store, and did not have enough money to order new items. She knew she had to act, and fast, or her business would go under.
In February of 2010 Denise rediscovered the Small Business Development Center. She started working with Ken Fakler who was ‘instrumental’ to her success. He pointed her in the direction of the Mountainland Revolving Loan Fund as well as the Utah Micro Loan Fund. The Orem team coached Denise through her fast pitch and business plan, getting her ready for D-Day (meeting with the board members.) Initially, board members thought that Denise was stretching herself to thin and were not interested in lending her the money. Ken encouraged them to go home and see if their wives would be interested in such a store. Thanks to the wives and Ken pressing for an extra board survey, Denise was able to get the start-up money she needed from the two lenders. This happiest of days happened on March 20, 2010.
Denise held a grand re-opening on April 17. The store had completely changed and is now filled with candy and cake supplies. Sales have sky rocketed and keep rising every month. Denise opened the store in September as the sole employee. By her grand re-opening she obtained 3 part time employees, and with her rapid growth will be hiring on one more full time person at the beginning of fall. Denise stocks her shelves not with items she thinks will sell, but through taking constant suggestions she carries what her customers want. Just recently she added a new product called the ‘sugar veil’ an airy thin substance that is flexible and can take almost any shape. She is one of the only Utah carriers at this time.
Denise also offers classes to teach customers just how to make that perfect cake/candy decoration. Her classes fill up fast, and all the instructors she has just happen to be past customers. This is just one example of her wonderful people skills. Denise’s customers tend to become her fast friends.
Through being open to new ideas, revamping and a great marketing strategy Denise has been able to get her business out of a sink hole and thriving. “This wouldn’t have happened without the help of the Orem SBDC team,” says Denise.

Orem SBDC wins Small Business Development Center Service Excellence and Innovation Center Award

As an owner and operator of a successful Utah Valley tire chain, Ken Fakler learned first-hand the challenges and difficulties of small business ownership. Now, as managing director of the Orem Small Business Development Center (Orem SBDC), Fakler uses his vast experience to help other entrepreneurs navigate the same choppy waters. Helping prospective and existing business owners in Utah and Wasatch counties, Fakler's know-how has been especially valuable during the recent economic downturn, where credit has been tighter than a drum.
The Orem SBDC offers no-cost small business counseling and low-cost training for both pre-startup and existing businesses in its territory. Its dedicated, professional staff collaborate closely with community economic resources and partners in providing workshops, trainings, expos, and marketing events.
Under the oversight of its director, Steve Clark, the Orem SBDC has become a highly prolific service center producing significant economic impact. In 2009, the center counseled 500 new and existing business clients, helped 44 of the new clients start businesses and helped these small businesses in obtaining more than $6.2 million in capital infusion.
Key services provided by the Orem SBDC include capital access and marketing. Center personnel help clients conduct market research, develop business plans and apply for loans. Counselors aid existing business owners with specialty training products such as Covey's 7 Habits for Business Managers, Dashboard and 360 Survey. The center can also tap into a strong network of small-business experts and resources in other service centers within the Utah Small Business Development Center system.

Eagle Mountain's Hidden Florist

Emmie's Hidden Floral

Emily page

7787 Crestwood Cir.

Eagle Mountain, UT 84005

(801) 717-0618
emilycrs@netscape.net

Emily Page was enthusiastic when she came to the Orem Start Smart Class. "I've always had the thought in the back of my brain to start my own business." Two months and a few SBDC appointments later, Emily was in business as "Emmie's Hidden Floral". She was thrilled to have some help with the business part of starting her own floral shop, because Emily already knew flowers. "I love being creative," she said. "I like to make something beautiful that makes everybodys day." After working in several florist shops over the years, Emily knew she had style, skill, customer service charisma, and good relationships with vendors. What she lacked was the knowledge of how to start. Though a few years had past since then, Emily had been looking forward to the time where she could start her own florist business.

The time was right in 2009. At her first SBDC appointment, Emily started the process to become a legal business entity. She had been looking for equipment and wanted to get things in place. Emily and her husband live in Eagle Mountain City, and she knew that a large community of families lived miles away from a floral shop. Lehi had the closest florist and Emily was convinced there was a market just waiting to be served. Her challenge was that she wanted to work from her home. After consulting the City Municipal Center, Emily was approved to run a flower shop from her home - actually from one section of her garage. After starting her business, Emily advertised in the local newspaper, and took an arrangement into the City Offices, talked to her neighbors and within 2 weeks, was booked to create custom arrangements for a fall wedding.

Since then, "Emmie's Hidden Floral" has become the Eagle Mountain City's florist of choice and has spread the word to local residences. Still enjoying creating beautiful floral pieces, Emily is also enjoying the business side of owning her own business. She has excellent relationships with her wholesaler and she continues to add to her portfolio of arrangements. She now comes in to the SBDC to brainstorm marketing ideas and research target markets. She has plans to create a website that people can order from and offer delivery to those in Eagle Mountain. Emily is glad to have the help of the Orem SBDC team to guide her. "You have been awesome to work with and have helped me out a ton!" Now, Emily is focused on increasing her sales. Her goal is to develop "Emmie's Hidden Floral" into Eagle Mountain residence's favorite florist.

CDL Training Success Story

CDL Training Inc.
Jose Bentura
1555 Technology Way, Orem, UT 84097
801-987-2222
info@mycdltraining.com

Jose Bentura is not new to the business world. He has owned a variety of businesses since he was 18. His previous business ventures included huge overhead costs, such as used car dealerships, where he was generating up to $10 million in sales a year, operating costs were close to $9.9 million. Jose came to Utah with his family from the east coast. After losing $400,000 in a business deal, with nothing but the shirt on his back and the will to work hard to build a successful business.
Jose started his company, CDL Training, in Orem in March 2009. He came to the Orem SBDC in January 2009, for guidance in setting aggressive goals to run his company. The ocean of knowledge at the Orem SBDC was priceless. Jose was looking for structure and organization – the SBDC helped him attain that for his company. Jose considers that to be a foundation of his business, “Because if you don’t know where you are going, how do you know when you get there?” He says that “the monthly meetings are helpful to keep him on track”. Just eight months into the life of CDL Training, Bentura is 100% debt free, a first in his many business ventures. Ironically, in the worst economy, he is doing better than ever before.
Bentura recognizes that the bumps in the road from his previous businesses has been good experience, and he has learned from his mistakes. His keys to success are low maintenance, low overhead, and low expenses. He delegates well and is able to employ 2 to 4 employees while training anywhere from 5 to 50 students to certify for their CDL. His niche is the Hispanic market. While other companies turn these folks away, Bentura’s staff is bilingual and able to train them. His first priority is to give and create opportunities for his students. He not only helps them in a one-on-one program to get CDL certified, going at the individual’s pace; but after certification he assists his students with job placement. The program is 3 to 4 weeks long, and after that, his students can often triple their prior annual salary as truck drivers. Also, Bentura is now assisting his students in starting their own trucking businesses. He helps them find semi trucks for their own company and sends them to the SBDC for further business help.
Bentura advertises through Spanish radio, TV, print, word of mouth, and ads on his vehicles. He has found the internet marketing and SEO classes offered by the Orem SBDC center to be tremendously helpful in getting him more business. He runs his business out of the UVU incubators so his students have a store front to pick up applications, a space for a receptionist that is always available, and a place to study if needed. He started his business with one truck and a rented trailer, and has since grown to 3 trucks and a bus in the 8 short months since he opened. He has already graduated 110 students from his program; and has recently expanded to a location in West Valley City and hopes to soon open 5 more locations in Seattle, Wyoming, Denver, Idaho and Las Vegas. With his success spreading like wildfire what Jose really needs to concentrate on now is taking a few days off.