Run & Grow Business

Earthfruits Yogurt, Hillsborough, NJ

Jim Ciampa, Co-owner with Maryann CiampaBefore I was in business I was in corporate America as the director of finance for Alcoa Fastener Systems - a division of Alcoa. After the manufacturing operation was transitioned to Mexico my wife and I decided to move to New Jersey since Maryann grew up in the state. We knew it was time to realize our dream of opening our own business. The business is a franchise. I had looked at multiple businesses prior to getting into the franchise and I was actually recruited for this model. I am a big proponent of working with the right people.  When I met the franchise owners I was very impressed with their knowledge, sincerity and honesty and most of all they listened to us as the franchisee in terms of what we wanted to do. They didn't try to force us to do things their way but were willing to get a lot of input from us.

 

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Owner/Founder
Jim and Maryann Ciampa
My Location
438 Rt. 206
Hillsborough NJ 08844
United States
Employees
10
Year Company Formed
2012
My Successes

Pictures of Earthfruits YogurtAt the end of the day success is based on profitability but the way you build it is not just through your P&L but also on building a sustainable customer base.  You have to create relationships with the customer.  We want to stand above the competition by giving our customers a delicious yogurt, quality customer service and an exceptionally clean buying environment.  We are also interested in promoting any fundraising activities we can do for our customers to “give back” to the community.  We want to let people know who we are and what we believe in.  The “making money” part of being in business is great but the “feel good” part is even better.  When I was young I was aware some of the companies that prospered in my neighborhood didn’t necessarily do a lot to help the people and my town.  I always said if I owned a successful company I would do that – and now I really like being able to help our neighbors with causes dear to their hearts and ours.

What's Great About My Mentor?

Matt and I have a pretty good relationship and share some of the same qualities. We’re both passionate about what we like to do. We both believe in sincerity, honesty and integrity in running a business and expect the same from our vendors. We believe educating employees with these same characteristics will help support and grow a business. Because Matt was a retail owner we connect on the operational side of the business. He gives me input on selecting a second location, how to go about doing some of the fundraisers, how to attract new customers and dealing with social media.

How SCORE Helped

When I first met Matt and Sandy what they provided me with was a better perspective in terms of how to open a business and how to run the business, some of the challenges that I would eventually encounter in opening the business, some of the potential road blocks and how to navigate around all that.

Education

B.S. Business (Accounting) from Northeastern University

Princeton SCORE Announces 5th Annual Small Business Fair: Learn, Connect & Network on May 4th, 2013!

Date
Thu, 2013-03-28 13:00

On Saturday, May 4th, 2013, the Princeton SCORE chapter and Princeton Public Library are joining forces to host the 5th Annual Small Business Fair in downtown Princeton. The fair will be held at the Princeton Public Library from 11am to 3pm, and attendance is FREE.

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Published Jan. 28, 2013 application/pdf icon

This paper will outline ways to stay ahead on your business accounting and financial paperwork. These simple weekly steps will save you major at tax preparation time as well as providing useful ongoing operational financial information to guide your business decisions.

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About the Author

30+ years of retail experience with two Big Box corporations, managing numerous multi million retail outlets within New Hampshire. Experience included meeting or exceeding operational goals, profit, expense control, and customer experience.

Published Jan. 28, 2013 application/pdf icon

This small business tool itemizes a series of simple low cost steps a business owner should consider to increase market awareness for their company.

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About the Author

35+ years of experience in IT functions, Marketing, Sales, Sales Support and Consulting at the practitioner and General Manager levels. Experience working with Fortune 100 companies specializing  in business planning, strategy development, sales and marketing leadership.

 

Off Broadway Dance Company

Owners Pat Balderas and Geri Messer created Off Broadway by purchasing the Manhattan Dance Company in 2011, and they have been growing steadily ever since. They maintain their studio in the Common Space in order to keep costs down and fees low. Many of their students are working women, who attend class on evenings and Saturdays.

Owner/Founder
Geri Messer & Pat Balderas
My Location
Common Space 1700 N Reynolds Rd Rm 207
Toledo OH 43615
United States
How SCORE Helped

The adults taking tap dance lessons at this studio located in the Common Space are often also the stars in performances given throughout the community.  Their big event is the Annual Showcase staged each year at the Maumee High School Performing Art Center.  

These folks are serious about tap dancing; most of them attend two or three lessons each week, and progress from “beginner” to “advanced” under the guidance of the area’s finest teachers.   This makes Off Broadway unique in the Toledo area.

Pat and Geri had the help of SCORE mentors Dennis Snell and Alan Messer, who have guided them in their growth and in planning for the future.  Space will soon become an issue; there were two classes each week when they started (with 30 students), and the walls are now bulging with eight classes (and 55 students).

Adults range in age from 22 to 72, and most look forward to participating in the Company’s performances. They have an extensive community outreach program, going to nursing homes and the like.  But they also are becoming well known as performers at various functions in the area.  And that Annual Showcase attracted 700 paid attendees last year!

Pat and Geri emphasize that we are “all adults taught by adults; this is not an exercise class; we don’t dumb it down; this is really a professional operation.” But they are quick to say that not everyone wants to be a performer, and others who are interested in learning the skills of tap dancing are certainly welcome!

Go to their excellent web site: www.offbroadwaydancecompany.com for more information. 

SCORE is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and may be reached at 419.259.7598 and www.nwoscore.org

Little Island

I have loved cooking and baking since I was a little girl in Jamaica. I once tried to bake my sister a birthday cake using a wood-burning stove. That cake wasn't a success but my latest venture into preparing food for others shows every sign of becoming a big success. Last May I opened “Little Island”, an authentic Jamaican Restaurant, in Hillsborough, New Jersey.

I got the idea to open my restaurant in the summer of 2011. I was taking the science courses I needed to get a degree in nursing, but really wasn't enjoying my studies. When I thought about what I really wanted to do, I kept coming back to my love for the Jamaican food I grew up enjoying.

The next step I took was to start my research — were there any direct competitors in Hillsborough?  How far would I be from nearest Jamaican restaurants?  What did they serve on their menus?  What was their pricing?  And, of course, what would it take to open my own restaurant?  Could I find a good location?  What licenses would I need?  What equipment?  Who were good, reliable vendors?  And most important, what would it cost?

All of this information is necessary, but can be overwhelming.  My son, Michael, suggested that I go to SCORE to seek advice.  I started working with SCORE mentors in August 2011.  My first focus was on forming an LLC and reserving my desired name both as a business and for my website.  I then moved on to developing a business plan that would allow me to determine what I would need to invest to open a new business and support that business through the critical first 12 to 18 months of operation. Fortunately, I didn't allow myself to be rushed into decisions.

My Location
378 South Branch Road
Hillsborough NJ 08844
United States
Year Company Formed
2012
My Successes

Local News Article on Us by the Hillsborough Patch

What's Great About My Mentor?

L to R: Gene Strupinski, Hillsborough Township, NJ Business Advocate, June Lee, Ownerand Nancy Bukovina, SCORE Central Jersey Mentor

 

How SCORE Helped

SCORE Counselors worked with me from early in the planning effort for this business.  I first came to SCORE looking for guidance in forming a business entity and establishing a plan for my business. After the initial meeting, SCORE counselors assisted me in developing my business plan, defining strategies for negotiating my lease and determining an initial marketing strategy. I researched the pricing and quality of directly competitive restaurants within a viable commuting distance of my chosen location. SCORE then assisted me in developing a pricing strategy for my own menu that would be both competitive and profitable.

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