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Debbie Brown, Serial Entrepreneur!
Tim and Debbie Brown started their lives together in 1978 on their farm in Nyssa, Oregon. Tim’s parents raised buffalo on their place as a hobby. In 1983 Tim’s parents retired from farming and Tim & Debbie took over their farm and the buffalo. In 1985 Debbie painted and posted the first Brown’s Buffalo Ranch sign at the bottom of the road in Nyssa. A few years later the low fat, leaner meat health craze took hold.
Debbie recognized that there was a growing market for their Buffalo meat. In 1988, she started to heavily market the health aspect of the Buffalo meat and focused on the local restaurants. In 1992 they started Brown’s Chuck Wagon, a mobile facility that allowed them to cater private events, auctions, go to county fairs, and other public gatherings to sell their Buffalo Burgers and Indian Tacos.
Both businesses were quite successful, but early in 1999 Debbie recognized the need to expand their marketing and their services. She contacted the TVCC BizCenter about developing a Marketing Plan. After meeting with BizCenter Advisor, Debi DeBord, the Brown’s decided to expand their marketing to restaurants in Boise, McCall and Sun Valley, ID and also to schools, rest homes and hospitals. DeBord met with the Brown’s at their Ranch to develop their marketing plan using the BizCenter’s laptop computer.
In December of 2000, Debbie contacted the BizCenter again to discuss her interest in forming a cooperative with other bison producers to better take full control of their product line. Long term, the profitability of this business is in having the slaughter facility and processing their own products and selling those products themselves.
The Brown’s worked closely with BizCenter Advisors Andrea Testi and Gary Clark, researching the feasibility of purchasing a meat packing plant in Nampa and opening a retail space. During this time they also registered forand attended the NxLevel class, offered by the BizCenter and taught by Andrea. Debbie wanted a refresher in business management and wanted to make sure she was taking everything into consideration when making this decision to expand.
Seeking financing for purchasing this business and making the necessary renovations, was a critical part of their strategy. Many of the United States Small Business Administration Loan Programs were reviewed for compatibility with their financing needs. Ultimately, the Brown’s and their business partners agreed on an investor, self-financed cooperative business operation.
In August of 2001, Brown’s and their business partners purchased the USDA Certified, Northwest Premium Meats, LLC Debbie took over as plant manager and opened a retail store in the front of the facilities.
By the end of 2003, Debbie was ready to move on to yet another business venture. Tim was taking over managing the plant and enjoying it. Debbie started looking into the possibilities of becoming a personal chef, since she really enjoyed cooking.
Debbie also recognized the need to diversify their investments. She felt that it was not good to have all of the time and money tied up in the Buffalo business. In the Fall of 2005 Debbie created and started Cookie Art.
As a child Debbie can remember her grandmother spending days baking for family and friends as holidays drew near. She could hardly wait for those wonderful cookies to come out of her oven. Debbie continued in her grandmother’s footsteps, baking those special holiday cookies for her family. And now, she’s taken that tradition one step further.
Each “Cookie Art” creation is personalized for her customers. All you need is the occasion to remember and she’ll deliver the memory...from “thinking of you” to “Happy Holidays.”
Debbie creates and sells individually decorated bouquets, large pan cookies, and assorted gourmet gift boxes for all occasions.
Once Debbie decided that she was going to start Cookie Art she contacted the BizCenter looking for assistance in marketing and pricing. Cookie Art has been open and operating for six months and has developed a steady and growing clientele.
If you ask Debbie why she felt the need to start another business, she will tell you “I have always enjoyed making cookies for family and friends on the holidays. I have reached a burnout stage in marketing the products I have produced for the last 27 years and now the opportunity has come for me to do something for myself.”
Debbie credits her success as a “serial entrepreneur” to her ability to jump in feet first. She says that she has never been afraid to jump in and try something new. She does her homework and researches each business venture before she starts. Once she has determined that it is a solid business idea she does not hesitate.
The TVCC BizCenter team systematically distributes client success stories to all local media, including newspaper, radio and the college newsletter. The BizCenter has a regular spot on KSRV AM 1380 talk radio, on which the success stories are discussed and promoted on air by radio announcer, Carl Follick.
The BizCenter team never knows exactly what to expect when Debbie calls; however, they do know that it will be a well thought out idea with lots of fun involved for all!
Three Generations of Business
Rob Thompson and Ken Riley, owners of Thompson's Sanitary Service, Inc., were named the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2006 Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Business of the Year.
The award was presented to Rob and Ken by Leon Milobar, District Director of the SBA Portland District Office, at a lunch forum hosted by the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce on Friday, May 19th.
Ken Thompson and his brother Neal started Thompson Sanitary Service, Inc. in 1963 when they won a competitive bid for the city franchise for the garbage collection in Newport. The Thompson brothers purchased the old equipment from the former service provider, which consisted of two 15-year-old Dodge open top dump trucks. Ken and his wife Agnes purchased their first Leach rear load garbage truck at that time. Two years later Ken and Agnes bought out Neal. They ran the business until 1981. At that time Ken and Agnes sold the company to Bob, their son, and his wife Sandi.
Originally the business operated out of a 9x10 ft. room in Ken and Agnes' home. The business has relocated several times because of growth, and in 2001 operations were moved into a new 6,400-square foot office off of Highway 101. Bob and Sandi have retired and the business is now actively managed by Ken Riley and Rob Thompson, members of the third generation. Over the years the industry has gone through many changes. One year ago, the family made a fundamental change to the collection of all its recycling on route for its customers, which required a very large investment of capital into trucks and roll carts. The customers responded in a tremendous way. As a result the business has grown and improved profitability while maintaining stable rates to its customer base, and the retention of 25 family wage jobs. This is the first year the family-owned business award has been given by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Thompson's Sanitary was nominated for the award by Oregon Coast Community College Small Business Development Center.
Laura's Studio by the Bay Goes International
Laura's Studio by the Bay is a teaching art studio located on Alsea Bay. The facility is on 20 acres and includes a large barn that has been converted to an 800 square-foot studio area, a full kitchen, full bath facility and a 10-bed dorm. Students can come here and stay at the studio for a very nominal fee where they have access to a full kitchen and all the facilities. The studio area is open 24 hours during seminars, which allows students to paint at any time that suits them.
When Miller first bought the business, the building was in terrible shape and Miller spent the last four years investing in repairs and remodeling in anticipation of attracting customers not only from the immediate area, but also from outside the state and the country. Miller hosts international folk art painters who are looking for a U.S. venue to show and sell their works. Miller pays their way and their expenses while they are here. Artists attend painting conventions together where they can get maximum exposure to a pool of both national and international painters. Artists then return to her Waldport studio where Miller teaches a series of seminars based on their particular styles and they give demonstrations of their techniques. Miller charges a per student/per day fee which does not include the fee for staying in the dorm. The seminars are usually two or more days which means the students stay in this area for the length of the seminar and often a day or two more. They shop in the local grocery store, they often go 'antiquing' and usually all go out to dinner together at least once per seminar.
Miller received several boosts from the SBM program. Miller is much more comfortable with books and financial statements. The programs helped with developing systems in her business. This was the first time Miller had dealt with inventory and found it difficult to get a handle on how to track it, particularly supplies that are used but not sold.
It was incredibly helpful to have one-on-one assistance to figure out specific inventory problems and to have help figuring out what systems were going to work for the several parts of the business. As a result, Miller found places where she was using resources inefficiently and have been able to reduce both overhead and expenses. Miller also learned about margins, how to increase them and formulas to use to price products. Miller was able to attend a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) seminar that featured SBA International Counselors and with the help of a local attorney she met at the meeting. She now has professional advice in dealing with any international issue. The SBDC is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Oregon Coast Community College and Oregon Economic and Community Development Department.
As a result of the program, I am expecting to increase sales by about 15% over the next year and am confident that Miller will be able to substantially increase client base. Miller also plans to hire one part-time employee next year.
