News articles and press releases.
By Aldo Svaldi
The Denver Post
Key advice on how to sell your product or service.
Littleton
CO
United States
How SCORE Helped
Kimbra Orr founded Kimbra Studios in 1999 and quickly became the industry leader in custom photo jewelry and accessories. As the original designer of this unique jewelry, she began producing photo charm bracelets and cufflinks in the basement of her home.
A stay-at-home mom of two, Kimbra came up with a unique business idea: Why hide a treasured photo inside a locket? She used credit cards and personal lines of credit to turn her idea into a reality. Kimbra began experimenting with all types of sealants, searching for one that would be airtight, waterproof, and would last a lifetime without damaging the photo or piece. When she discovered and created her patented sealant, the hard part was over and she got to really enjoy herself creating designs that are unique and compelling.
Kimbra is a huge proponent of flexible work schedules. Kimbra Studios now has six employees, all of whom work a flexible schedule to accommodate their own busy family lives.
SCORE is proud to be a part of Kimbra Studios’ success.
How SCORE Helped
In October, 2007, Wayne & Annette Wright purchased a 25-year old, million dollar/yr. commercial painting company located in Denver. The purchase was made with a personally guaranteed SBA loan, a HELOC loan on the family’s home and nearly $100K cash from their savings account. After six months of attempting to get a handle on the business, Wayne saw the business in a free flight toward failure. A friend suggested contacting SCORE for help.
Wayne’s background included successful sales and management positions with well known paint manufacturers. He was confident that he could transfer his success from the corporate world to a small business like this old line Denver painting company. Wayne had the confidence that he could grow the business to several million in a few years but little did he know that his blinders, the recession, and his burning desire to acquire his own business were going to be such a challenge.
It was apparent to the SCORE Counselor during their first meeting that extensive “due diligence” was not acted upon by Wayne even though he had the assistance of an attorney, business broker and CPA . Most of the equipment and inventory that was included with the 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse was either broken or unusable, and the warehouse was an unnecessary burden for the business.
After more than 100 sessions with the SCORE Counselor, he found Wayne a very cooperative and willing client that was able to take suggestions and make them a reality. The SCORE Counselor engaged other Counselors at times for assistance with specific issues.
Wayne’s business now is operating with a new business model: the office operates from a much smaller facility, the office staff has only four professionals instead of 30 non-professionals, and of course last year’s bottom line net profit margin was well above the national averages for this industry.
6515 S Wenatchee Ct.
Aurora
CO
80016
United States
How SCORE Helped
Harold Massop Associates Architects (HMA) is a multidiscipline design firm founded in 1988 in Denver specializing in architecture, planning and interior design. The company is a SBE/MBE firm certified in the State of Colorado, the City and County of Denver and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Some of the Massop projects will be familiar to Denver and Colorado Springs residents including: NORAD/US Army Spacecom Operational Facilities, Kit Carson Memorial Plaza in Colorado Sprints, U.S. West (now Qwest) Office Building, Five Points Media Center, Cherry Creek Office Building, Rocky Mountain Electrical Supply in Denver.
HMA has endured many recessions since 1988. Harold invited SCORE in with its Business Check-Up Service in January 2009 to assure he hadn’t overlooked any operational detail in this, the worst recession the firm has faced. Since January 2009, three SCORE volunteers under the team leadership of Jack Scott have met with him once a month and continue to do so. The initial focus was on expense containment, then marketing, then loan management and now succession planning. HMA is a work in progress and a testimony to managing through the worst recession to hit the construction industry in memory.
Harold’s wife Carmen started her own gift basket business in January 2009. Ken Hootnick of SCORE assisted her with the startup.
Information and links to business resources.
U.S. government gateway to small business information.
Published Sep. 18, 2012
SCORE ExpertAnswers
Setting competitive prices for your work and then getting paid for it are two of the most asked-about issues among new entrepreneurs. Few people are better qualified to provide answers than Janet Attard. An internationally recognized expert on self-employment and home office issues, Janet has 20 years of experience developing and running popular online forums.
In addition to being a frequent speaker and interview source on small business issues, she is the author of several books, including Business Know-How: An Operational Guide For Home-Based and Micro-Sized Businesses with Limited Budgets and The Home Office and Small Business Answer Book.
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Why is setting prices for products and services so difficult for new entrepreneurs?
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About the Author
Janet Attard is the founder and CEO of Business Know-How and the CEO of Attard Communications, Inc. An expert on small business and self-employment issues, she is the author of two widely praised books for small businesses and home businesses: The Home Office and Small Business Answer Book, and Business Know-How: An Operational Guide For Home-Based and Micro-Sized Businesses with Limited Budgets.
Janet has also written a number of other books and articles covering a wide range of small business topics including sales and marketing; business startup, business operations, time management and human resources.
Information on bonding, insurance, and intellectual property (copyrights, trademarks, patents). Links to sources for accountants, lawyers, insurers, bankers, website designers, and trade groups.
Information and links on franchises/licenses, and out-of-state, import/export, web-based, veteran-owned, minority-owned, disadvantaged, and home-based businesses.
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