Success Stories
Security Shredding Services
Security Shredding, own and operated by Lathan Asbra, provides a document destruction program through on-site and off-site secure paper shredding. Security Shredding Services saves businesses money by shredding confidential information in a brief amount of time. For example, the amount of documents Security Shredding can destroy in 15 minutes would take a business employee approximately 160 hours to do; this equates to a savings of approximately $2000 annually.
Lathan stated, “When I decided to start my own business there were two different areas that were important to me. I was interested in creating something that catered to my sense of environmental responsibility, and wanted to provide some sort of security that offered peace of mind. I was able to meet both of those desires with Security Shredding Services. It just fit. I invested one and half years in business plan development doing market surveys, equipment studies, and financial work.”
He reported that he found being a white middle-aged male was a big obstacle in being an entrepreneur. He explained that there are many programs available to help minorities, but few to assist one with his demographics. However, with persistence, creativity and hard work, he found needed resources to help him towards his goals.
Lathan said, “I would encourage other entrepreneurs to take their ideas and talk to someone at your Economic Development office. Quite often, they will know who to steer you towards such as the NBDC or a SCORE Chapter. There are any number of groups that are trained and ready to assist you, just be persistent and keep looking, they are out there.”
Lathan commented that the marketing and advertising strategies he found most beneficial and recommended to other business owners is to simply get involved in the community or communities the business provides services and or products. He said, “if you provide an honest, cost effective, professional service, people are eager to tell others of their discovery and will go out of their way to spread the good news to help you out. Nothing beats a continuously happy, well treated customer; you can bank on it!”
Lathan was made aware of SCORE through the Norfolk Area SCORE counselor, Marilyn Alexander, who needed his services. Marilyn recognized Lathan was a developing entrepreneur and shared with him all about SCORE.
He said, “I thought it would be senseless not to take advantage of a program comprised of experienced business minds who had already been through the challenges of business ownership and/or working within a business. Come to find out, they are the most caring group of individuals I've stumbled onto yet. Also, there's nothing I wouldn't do to work with two of the SCORE counselors, Virg and Mary!
SCORE benefited me with encouragement and direction. They're showing me what works and what doesn't. To have courage and to leave the “shy” at home (this is not easy), pay attention to the business plan, and try not to shred by the seat of my pants.”
To support his goal of providing an economical, environmental friendly solution to shredding waste management, Lathan wrote a grant that was supported by the community of Laurel , NE to start a recycling facility. He was awarded an $185,000 grant which he stated would not have occurred without community support.
The grant will be used to build a recycling facility to bale and store shredded material until it's sent to a mill for reproduction. Security Shredding is the only on-site shredding company in the three state region that recycles the shredded material which provides additional security to customers as they know the destination of their shredded documents. In addition, this full service secure document destruction program appeals to customers who have concerns for the environment. The facility will provide recycling for paper, plastic, aluminum and tin products for Laurel , NE and surrounding communities.
Lathan is all about finding solutions for business security in an environmentally, friendly manner. He understands the importance of careful planning, partnering with community planners, and utilizing services available to entrepreneurs such as SCORE. With Lathan's developing business experience, a growing market, positive customers' feedback and utilization of available resources; Lathan's goal for a steady and slow business expansion should be realized.
Sylvan Learning Center Franchise
SCORE’S Work with Franchise Learning Center Owners is a Lesson in Start-up Success
Taking early retirement after more than three decades of working in the Lawton, OK, public school system didn’t mean that Howard and Jo Jean Johnson were ready to slow down. They dreamed of starting a business that would fill a need in the community and provide them with a successful career change. The ideal solution was to open a franchise of Sylvan Learning Centers, the world’s leading provider of supplemental education services to primary and secondary school students.
First, however, the Johnsons had to convince Sylvan’s corporate officials in Baltimore that Oklahoma’s third largest city qualified for a franchise. “Sylvan’s demographic review indicated that Lawton was indeed a viable location for its third Oklahoma Learning Center,” Howard says. “It was up to Jo Jean and me to make it happen.”
Having worked with community education during his years as a school administrator, Howard knew all about SCORE and the valuable services the organization provides to new entrepreneurs. But he was in for a surprised when he called SCORE’s Lawton Chapter. “ The man who picked up the phone turned out to be Vic Yarborough, my family’s next-door neighbor when I was growing up,” Howard says with a smile. “He and his colleagues would a tremendous help in getting us started.”
"The expert, caring help Vic and his colleagues at SCORE provided was absolutely essential to our success. They have been helpful from the get-go."
– Vic Yarborough, Owner, Lawton Sylvan Learning Center
Yarborough, a retired executive with Halliburton Services, immediately enrolled the Johnsons in several seminars that provided advice on banking, legal issues and zoning. As with most of new enterprises, though, the big issue was money. “Vic put us in touch with a bank and helped us prepare the business plan for the loan application,” Howard says. “That led to an SBA-backed loan that we used to pay the franchise fee, lease a building, do the build-out, purchase equipment, meet city zoning requirements and meet our other start-up costs.”
More than four years after contacting SCORE, the Lawton Sylvan Learning Center serves approximately 150 students each month with after-school help reading and math, as well as other academic needs. In terms of revenue, the Johnsons’ franchise ranks among the leading 35 percent of Sylvan’s more than 900 Learning Centers in North America, putting the couple more than halfway on the road to repaying their bank loan. They also purchased a new building that gives them an additional 1,500 square feet of much-needed space for their growing business.
The Johnson’s still call on SCORE occasionally when a question arises about management or finances. Howard is also pleased that his search for a new business advisor reconnected him with an old family friend. “I was so happy when Vic stopped by recently to tour our new building,” he says. “The expert, caring help he and his colleagues at SCORE provided was absolutely essential to our success. They have been helpful from the get-go.”
Johnstone Supply
HVAC Parts Cooperative's Business Plan Brings Success in Bettendorf, IA
Randa Alexander and Tony Kurtz decided it was time to go into business. The two partners purchased an existing parts supply store for for appliance, heating and air conditioning equipment. They opened for business on April Fools day, but they were not foolish.
The once $300,000 per-year gross-sales business is now profitable, with growing annual sales volume soon to approach $1 million. Before buying their business, Randa and Tony had investigated their market and knew their community could support this store.
Within a short period of time they relocated their store to a larger and more modern location. In addition, they joined a national cooperative and changed their company name to Johnstone Supply—a national identity and direct marketing campaign designed by the cooperative. These strategic actions helped them increase sales and gain market share.
"Ben really gave us realistic expectations about purchasing a business and how to grow its customer base."
– Randa Alexander, Co-owner, Johnstone Supply
According to Randa, SCORE Counselor Ben Schneider provided valuable insight about how to prepare a business plan and think strategically. "Ben worked with me on developing the business plan. His insights and experience in retail sales provided the realistic feedback I needed to be sure that once my partner and I purchased the business we would be a success." Ben met with Randa on 40 different occasions throughout the business-planning and business-improvement process. Ben is a volunteer with the Quad Cities SCORE Chapter.
Johnstone Supply in Bettendorf, IA, is a success—it is profitable two years after Randa and Tony took over the business. Johnstone Supply employs eight people and generates $750,000 in annual revenue. This business is strategically located in the Quad Cities area along the Mississippi River bordering Iowa and Illinois. Johnstone Supply draws customers from the extended Quad Cities area.
Randa and Tony split their duties within the company based upon their areas of expertise. Tony handles the inventory ordering, inventory control and service. He has 12 years experience in the commercial heating and cooling industry. Randy coordinates administration, financial tracking and proposals for commercial bids. Both owners have participated in the Johnstone training classes, which have built their knowledge of how to best utilize the cooperative for their local marketing, management and customer service.