Success Storys of Some....

8/14/2019 Success Storys of Some....

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SUCCESS STORYS OF

SOME .

Prairie Signs

Opened: 1986Principle Owners: Earl Anderson, Suzanne Anderson, Andrew CarbyNumber of Employees: 13 full-time

How would you describe your services/products?

Full service & custom sign shop

Through a short interview, Elizabeth assessed our needs and took with her several

years of financial records. She organized and analyzed the information and helped uspin-point our focus. She also made recommendations on how to improve theprofitability of our products as well as the company as a whole. She maintained asteady contact with us to track our progress. Using many of her suggestions, weenjoyed an excellent 2005. As a small business owner it is very comforting to know aservice such as the Illinois Small Business Development Center existing locally andthat there is someone who genuinely cares about helping you prosper.

Kellys Bakery & Cafe

Opened:November 2005

Principle owners: Kelly & Jamie MathyNumber of Employees: 6


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Kelly's Bakery & Caf offers a variety of sandwiches, soups, quiche, and salads tomeet everyone's tastes. They cater to those looking for healthier options, as well asvegetarians. The home baked goods offer individually portioned breakfasts and

desserts for the fast paced business district of downtown.

The Illinois SBDC helped us analyze the data we had collected and gave us a strongfinancial look of how we could be successful. I think the thing that sparked Jamie andmyself was the fact that after meeting with Elizabeth, we felt a lot more confident inunderstanding where the previous business stood and things we could improve on to

be successful. The Illinois SBDC helped us understand exactly what we were gettinginto and that confidence ultimately made us decide to "go for it."

Quote from Pantagraph newspaper article on 3/21/2006:

Potential business owners, meanwhile, can learn what it takes to start a company.

In Mathy's case, Binning helped with the startup plan. Mathy opened Kelly's Bakery& Cafe, 113 N. Center St., in downtown Bloomington last November afterPumpernickel's Deli closed.

Binning and Mathy analyzed Pumpernickel's finances and found ways to operatemore efficiently.

"They helped us trudge through (the finances) and see what the strengths and

weaknesses were. The Illinois SBDC helped us compare where (Pumpernickel's) wasin comparison to other like businesses and what we needed to do in order to befinancially stable and successful," Mathy said.

"Elizabeth Binning also gave us some ideas for some grassroots marketing strategies,"she added.

Specs Around Town

Opened: October 1998Principle owners: Julie KubschNumber of Employees: 2 full time, 2 part time


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Optical Boutique offering the most unique, exclusive eyewear and sunwearcollections partnered with the most technologically advanced prescription lenses.Specs Around Town's forte' is personal service and their reputation rests on your

nose!

The Illinois SBDC is a wonderful resource. The free services they offer are ideal for asmall business wanting to grow, yet on a limited budget. I know if I need help or havea question the Illinois SBDC is only a phone call or email away!

Rising Stars Academy, Inc.

Opened: 1998Principle owners: Russ BerndtNumber of Employees: 25


Gymnastics, Tumbling, Trampoline and Cheerleading Instruction as well as BirthdayParties and Day Camps.

Everyone at the Illinois SBDC at Illinois State has been great to work with. They havehelped me narrow my focus onto those things that are important to grow the businessmore rapidly and efficiently. After working one-on-one with Elizabeth and Autumn,we have started working with a group of Entrepreneurship students from the Collegeof Business. It's good to know that the Illinois SBDC is there to help us along every

step of the way. Thanks for the continued support!!!


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COSI

Opened: December, 14, 2006Principle owners: Maurizio Carriero, Francisco Petinga, Benjamin TaimoorazyNumber of Employees: 34


Cosi is the premium, convenience restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch, afternooncoffee, dinner and dessert menus full of creative, fresh, flavorful foods and beverages.Cosi has developed featured foods that are built around a secret, generations-oldrecipe for crackly crust flatbread.

This artisan bread is freshly baked in front of customers throughout the day in openflame stone hearth ovens prominently located in each of the restaurants.

The Cosi menu features Cosi sandwiches, freshly tossed salads, Cosi Melts, soups,Cosi bagels, pizzas, S'mores and other desserts, and a wide range of coffee beverages.

"The Illinois SBDC helped a great deal with putting together our business plan. Weappreciate the time and quality we received from our friends at the Illinois SBDC."stated Francisco Pentingo, Cosi Manager.

"We would recommend the Illinois SBDC to any organization, I know we wouldntbe were we are today without them. Special thanks to Elizabeth Binning and AutumnLaube."

Cosi restaurants are designed to be welcoming and comfortable with an eclecticenvironment. Cosi's sights, sounds, and spaces create a tasteful, relaxed place thatalways provides a fresh and new dining experience.

The Cosi vision is to become America's favorite quality, convenience restaurant byproviding customers authentic, innovative, savory food while remaining an affordableluxury.

Hutton Auto Care Success Story


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Opened: August 14, 2006Principle owners: Bobby and Debbie HuttonNumber of Employees: 3


Hutton Auto Care opened its doors after working with the Illinois SBDC at IllinoisState for 8 months. Referred by their banker, Bobby and Debbie Hutton, came inseeking help writing a business plan. "They were very skilled technicians and knewhow to perform technical repairs to any car even racing cars, but they wereoverwhelmed by the thought of writing a business plan," said Illinois SBDC Director,Elizabeth Binning. In fact, everything was written by hand on a stack of papers.

"Together we talked about all the aspects of the plan their banker would expect to see- financial projections, competitor analysis, marketing strategies - and we slowly

began forming their notes into a cohesive plan." The Huttons had been planning on

opening their own business for sometime. Hutton recalls, "I was doing repairs at homeat night and saving the money I made to purchase tools and equipment." A lot of toolsand equipment - $216,000 worth. With a loan to purchase a building and do allrenovations necessary, Hutton Auto Repair opened its doors on August 14, 2006.

Brad Barker Honda

Opened:November 1982, moved to present location in February of 1988Principle owners: Brad Barker, president; William Barker, vice president; Al Barker,secretary/treasurer

Number of Employees: 40



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We are a Honda automobile dealership that focuses on new and used vehicles sales,Honda parts and accessory sales, Honda vehicle service and repairs.

Three management employees from Brad Barker Honda have utilized training fromthe Illinois SBDC at Illinois State. The Certificate in Small Business Management has

refreshed our overall management skills, particularly in the areas of human resourcesand marketing. The information presented gave our management team fresh ideas foroverall dealership improvement as well as planning ideas for future growth. Large orsmall, every business can benefit from the ideas presented through the Illinois SBDCtraining program.

Chem-Dry Clean Masters Success Story

Opened: July 2003Principle owners: Stan & Margie HuffNumber of Employees: 3 full- time & 3 part-time


Chem-Dry: Residential & Commercial Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning. The companyemphasizes hot-carbonated extraction, which cleans with less than 20% of themoisture of the traditional steam-type cleaner. The process is 100% non-toxic anddries much more quickly than other cleaners, usually 2-3 hours.

"Working with the students allows me to do two things: 1) Polish and shape ideas fororganized growth of our companies, while 2) revisiting and checking ourselvesregarding what we have been doing in the recent past. It develops both direction andaccountability for our companies and actions through honest, subjective evaluation ofour activities and goals. "

Quote from The Pantagraph 3/21/2006 article:

Stan Huff, owner of Chem-Dry CleanMasters, which has offices in Bloomington andPeoria, said his business jumped 30 percent after consulting with Binning last year.

Through the center, Huff tested his ideas and expanded the market area of hisresidential and commercial carpet and upholstery cleaning business.


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"It's a great tool for a small business that doesn't have the manpower or the hours inthe day to do the research," he said. "It's paid off tangibly. It's helped our tangiblegrowth and it's helped in terms of saving time and money." - Stan Huff, Chem-DryCleanMasters

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