Meeting Schedule
August 27 - Continue 3-Minute Commercials
September 3 - No meeting due to the Labor Day weekend
September 10 -
September 17 - New board takes over
Today's Program:
3-Minute Commercials
During ‘Leads and Introductions’
members answered one of the following three questions:
1. What was your initial ‘core’ business and what is it now?
2. What is the most drastic change in your business over the last
year?
3. In a 2 minute commercial tell us what your business
does/provides? Not the history – what it does/provides exactly.
Erin Jaicks - Our company started out making trucks
(skateboard axles). We found out fast that they last
long a long time so they don't sell as often. When then started
manufacturing decks (wood of the board) which has
been our core business for 5 years. We also added a wheel line. The
only money making item is the decks. We decided we don't want
to do any of it anymore as the process is a tedious pain in the butt
and not worth the low
margins. So we have started the process of designing private
label long boards.
Jim Bache - In 1985, after 5 years working
with a firm,
I decided I wanted to only be an estate planner. The services I perform are
those that all people need at some point in life, not just death.
Before people die there is usually a period of incapacity. Families
are thrown to into the
court system if they don't have simple forms in place. These
forms are available
all over the place but if they are not filled out right they will not do the job.
I can do wills, trusts, as well as general and sophisticated estate planning.
My biggest change recently has been dealing with the drop off in estate planning due to
the estate tax exemption. The issue involves more than taxes.
There are transition issues that
need to be addressed.
Bill LaLonde - Our core business has
definitely changed over the years. I started by purchasing a small pool service
route with my two sons. It began to get hard to hire people with
enough pride to go out on their own, unsupervised, and do a descent
job. About 15 years ago we acquired a contractor's license to
build and remodel pools. Business has turned back to mostly repairs and equipment
installations since the construction side is in such a down mode due to
economy.
Fred Vandervort - In 1989 I opened the first FastSigns franchise in Arizona.
We have been through several phases, adding a store then going back to
a single location. We do all types of signs. The most drastic changes
in our industry would be technology.
We used to physically cut out items and it was very labor intensive. Now we
have advanced systems that do the work for us.
Steve Chilton - I started off as a handyman.
I am now one of the largest maintenance contractors for local
companies. I own my own cabinet shop.
We have added a designer to our staff and currently have 2 full-time trucks for handyman
work. We operate 24 hours.
Denver Johnson - I started in the business doing estimating and sales.
During the first few years we focuses on residential work. We
have since added more commercial clients (HOAs, banks, etc.) which
need regular maintenance. We cleared land
for developers when the building boom was at its peak. There
are better margins with commercial clients. About 2-1/2 years ago business started to fall off due to
the economy.
People are not wanting full work done. We see a lot of competition
for work. Anyone with a chainsaw is willing to do it cheaper.
Unfortunately they are inexperienced. We are only taking jobs
with margins and are toughing it out until the economy turns.
Ryan Bohlander - I teach kids fitness classes to
small children. I started 5 years ago and it has grown quickly.
I am completely
mobile. I go into daycare centers. Parents pay me to pull
there kids out
of daycare to attend my class. There are some real limitations and
flaws in my current business model. For example, I do every part of business
including the teaching. I won't make any more
money unless I set my pride aside and change. One change I
have made is my new commercial. The next
step is producing a kid's DVD. I believe there is a real market for it.
It is a big, daunting
project but it is exciting.
Jake Ulrich - I started in banking in "1848"
and have seen a lot of
highs and lows. We all know the stigma in banking lately.
My role
is changing. As branch manager I deal more
with business clients. My goal with a customer is to really get integrated
into their business and learn how their business works so I can help improve
their net worth. I see lot of different financials from
various businesses which
gives me good ideas to share between clients.
Dave Crissman - In the beginning our core
business was plumbing. We moved into water treatment as our
main focus back for a while but have gone back to plumbing
repair and service. A big part starting to phase in is re-pipe
work.
Our systems can locate water leaks. You think you want to move
away from a segment due to the demands but fall back on it during the
hard times.
Phyllis Prater - Flexibility has been one of the exciting parts of
my business.
I worked for my parents until the robbery. I turned my kids TV
room into a jewelry room...and added pretty gray wallpaper. At
first I did only
insurance replacement work. I was a single parent with 2 kids
and gray
wallpaper. This was before any electronics. I worked with
Allstate. I didn't charge them. They sent clients to me
and I in turn gained a client referral base. People came
angry. They were not happy that Allstate sent them to this old
ladies house and that they were not getting the money they wanted. God gives
everybody one blessing. My blessing is verbal skills.
These crabby people left with a hug. I now have a wonderful customer base. Now the
whole industry has changed. People are just getting their
money from Allstate. Allstate demanded that I charge them for quotes or
they couldn't work with me. So I now I charge them. The
latest change for me is doing everything with cad machines. I
also buy
chipped diamonds from Allstate and get them re-cut. Business has
changed and I love it.
Lin Schmelzer - I came into the group as a graphic designer.
The crux of my business is design. I do logos and packaging, all the way
through marketing process. I handle all forms of media. Most of
the work I do is on the advertising side. Everything is
subjective. When I do logo will do 10-12 different designs and
let the client offer input. I have been in business over 30 years.
I did once have
an office with lots of employees. A couple of years ago I saw
the writing on
wall. I started at home and have gone back home. I can
work all day or go to a movie. There are many days that start
in my robe.
Carole Weishaar - I am a "retread". I
used to be in the food industry. I got a degree in travel
management and went to worked for someone in corporate travel. In
1993 I opened my own store with the big overhead. When
airlines quit paying commissions we lost 60% of our income.
The transition was hard. It necessitated a lot of changes. When they
my raised rent I left. I joined a travel network
which has given me more buying power...all from home. I focus
on upscale
luxury travel. I am a destination specialist in Western Europe,
specifically Italy. I have clients
that have been with me for 17 years. Like Lin, I can work
24-7...or not.
Stacy Hyder - Every thinks I only defend
criminals. I do anything where police involvement has
occurred. You usually want to get me involved as quickly as possible. In
the current
regime, we are fighting to keep innocent people from being charged.
One piece of advice I have, when police come and go, don't assume it
is all over.
You may have a warrant and large bond in your future. I also do a lot of
counseling. I try to make it so clients don't come back. That's the
goal. Whoever you hire when someone is charged, you want to make
sure they are going to work the case. I have
specialized knowledge because of my background. I work to get
that felony off your record.
To be continued next week...
