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Testimonials
| Helios USA |
| From Steve Ostrenga, CEO |
About SCORE: With the assistance of SCORE, Helios USA, LLC, a solar manufacturer, has decided to locate its first manufacturing facility in Milwaukee's Menomonee Valley. The facility, which will be fully operational by Q4 2010, will create over 50 new, permanent clean energy jobs in Wisconsin. Helios USA expects to begin hiring by late summer 2010.
Helios USA manufactures high-performance solar modules for use in residential, commercial, industrial, and utility-based solar electric systems. The company's reliable, high-efficiency modules, backed by a generous warranty, create new market opportunities by making solar electricity more attractive and economical.
SCORE was integral in developing Helios USA’s marketing, operational and financing strategies. Beginning in February of 2009, Steven Ostrenga, the CEO of Helios USA, met with Thomas Schrader, SCORE counselor based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Schrader’s previous experience as President of a natural gas company provided great insight into defining market segments and equity financing.
From an operational perspective, Jim Sopp, SCORE counselor based in the Chicago area, gave valuable feedback on supply chain negotiation and discussion of plant loading efficiencies.
Finally, Dick Boemer and Jim Longe, SCORE counselors based in Milwaukee and Racine, Wisconsin respectively, not only provided in depth analysis of the financial statements, but also provided strategies in regard to financial structure and debt financing.
“SCORE counselors were a key success factor in launching the business. They provided technical expertise, strategic feedback, were quick to respond, and were available seven days a week. I will forever be indebted to them”, explained Steve Ostrenga, CEO of Helios USA.
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| CD Phone Home, Inc. |
| From Edith McDonald |
About SCORE: Carlos Gutierrez buys used cell phones, repairs them and resells them.
His website is so well designed that he is high on Google's list when a search looks for Nextel phones. He gets 750 to 1000 hits a day and turns them into 10 to 50 sales. He's been in business since January 2009, grossed $403,000 last year and came to SCORE because he could expand his business if he could borrow enough money to buy more phones. His source for these phones is stores where they are turned in on new models.
We counseled him through the banker, accountant, insurance agent, and lawyer list and challenged him to go home and write the first page of his business plan that night.
He did! Took it to his bank and they asked for some numbers. He created an account summary. They asked for a balance sheet; he made one. When he could put his numbers on their template, they gave him a line of credit for $25,000. It's what he wanted: cash to buy larger lots of phones.
When the loan came through, he called to thank us for our help and tell of his success. Last week I caught up with him again and found he'd moved upstairs to a larger office space. CD Phone Home, Inc. is located in the incubator building where SCORE has its Fox Valley Office. He has added a second employee and is using $12,000 of the line of credit. This allows him to buy larger lots of used phones and lower his costs. He's paying 2% over the market. His average sale is $105.
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| Formosa Grooming |
| From Lisa and Joseph Tortora |
About SCORE: Before we started our grooming business, we contacted SCORE to understand what we needed to own a business. SCORE gave us directions and homework to help us to get ready. Along the preparation, we also went back to make sure if we were on the right track and also get more homework.
SCORE helped us to see the big picture from the idea to an actual store - all the way to keeping it in operation. Also, knowing that at anytime we can receive support from the SCORE team is a valuable asset in running a successful business.
About Formosa Grooming:
Lisa and Joseph first visited with their SCORE counselors in September, 2008 and began to prepare to open their first business. They spent several months completing their professional training and certifications, getting organized from a legal and accounting perspective, and opened their business in their home in July, 2009. For their initial advertising campaign, Joseph went door to door throughout the neighborhood passing out flyers.
In December, 2009 they opened their new storefront facility at 87th street and Route 59 in Naperville, bringing over the 100 customers they developed from their home business.
With their combination of outstanding professional abilities and focus on customers – both 2 and 4 legged, their business is expanding rapidly.
Lisa was born in Formosa. In Portuguese, Ilha Formosa means beautiful island. In Naperville, Formosa Grooming means beautiful dogs groomed by beautiful people. |
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| Foiled Cupcakes |
| From Mari Luangrath |
About SCORE: Cupcake delivery in Chicago.
Foiled Cupcakes is a gourmet cupcake bakery serving Chicago and its western suburbs. We bake fresh and delicious cupcakes by the dozen and deliver them to you – straight from our Chicago kitchen to your door.
Mari Luangrath, owner and entrepreneur, first met with her SCORE counselors in July 2008, and the Initial consultation consisted of an objective analysis of the business model with feedback on acute ways to improve the offering. Subsequent follow-up sessions were scheduled to address strategies to market, operate, grow, and increase profit margins.
Foiled Cupcakes acquired/leased the necessary physical assets, hired its initial staff, developed and began to implement a marketing plan, then launched its website in July 2009, offering delivered cupcakes to Chicago and its western suburbs with a unique combination of customization, quality, customer service, and, well - just fun.
Through the innovative use of social networking marketing, a great product, and even better customer focus and service, Foiled Cupcakes has become an instant success in the initial target market. Foiled Cupcakes has well over 5,000 followers on Twitter, 1,300+ facebook fans and is not only listed first when conducting a Google search for “foiled cupcakes;" it is the entire first page of the Google search results.
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| Byrne Transportation Services, LLC |
| From John Byrne |
About SCORE: We are a veteran-owned small business that is a subcontractor to a prime contractor working under the DTCI Program for the Dept. of Defense. Our area of expertise is working with specialized equipment to move large items. For the Dept. of Defense, these would be items such as tanks, helicopters and humvees.
We contacted SCORE to help us assimilate this business into our current operations, as we were very small and needed to grow. Controlling growth can be as daunting a task as downsizing. We didn't want to assume way too much debt and inhibit our ability to grow in the future. At the same point, we didn't want to send any signals that we were unwilling or unable to keep up with our customer needs.
SCORE was invaluable in coaching and assisting us in developing a strategic plan. They also met with us frequently to help us deal with issues as we encountered them. They were also able to maintain a more global view while we were in the trenches fighting the battle.
As of today, I am proud to say that with the assistance of SCORE we have moved to a new office, acquired a strong banking relationship, acquired the necessary offce and technology, and hired 10 new employees. We are also positioned to continue our growth as SCORE has given us the skill set and strategy to move forward.
We can't thank Robert Walsh and Wayne Barcheski of SCORE enough for sharing their experience and knowledge. |
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| Bella Ink |
| From Melissa Danaher |
| About SCORE: Bella Ink, a greeting card company, had grown from a home-based business into a recognizable brand available in hundreds of card and gift shops across the country in just over three years. I am an artist and had no idea how to run a business. I contacted SCORE when I knew that we were going to be a viable business. I realize that to have seasoned business people help me along the way was crucial in our success. I had my first meeting with Lee McFadden and Bill Carver. They talked to me about balance sheets, cash flow projections and accounting. I quickly lined up an accounting person, knowing this was not my forte! Several months later I came back with balance sheets and sales numbers. I could tell by the puzzled look on their faces that things weren't adding up. I would have never in a milllion years been able to pick up on the inconsistencies in the numbers. It was just not my thing! Thanks to them, I hired a NEW IMPROVED accounting person and got back on track. At the next pivotal meeting we discussed selling our products to big box stores. They explained that those can be good accounts to have but to be careful of margins, discounts and special treatment, as well as contracts about returning merchandise that didn't sell, etc. They made the point that we are doing so well selling to boutique shops that I should really think hard about selling to the BIG GUYS. We crunched numbers and although we were flattered by the "idea" of being in some big name stores, it was not the right time for us as a business. Once again, this saved us! Their experience has really helped us in crucial times in our business. Their insight and expertise is priceless. I honestly don't know what I would do without them! |
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| LOLLIPOP PORTRAIT, INC. |
| From Kate Dwyer, CEO |
About SCORE: I want to take a moment to thank you for all you have done to help Lollipop Portraits, Inc get started.
Your advice can not be measured. Your expertise in EVERYTHING helped me set up my corporation for success. I came to you looking for a trusted advisor and found a lasting friendship. I am honored to call you "coach" and will always be indebted to you and the SCORE team.
I credit SCORE for helping me with setting up success in all areas of my business and will continue to recommend Naperville SCORE to everyone I meet. |
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| Emerald Marketing, Inc. |
| From Tim Sullivan |
About SCORE: Emerald Marketing, Inc. needed to develop a business plan for a new service it is offering: community magazine publishing. The primary differentiation of this service involves a partnership with the various taxing bodies in a community. Finding bank financing for the venture was a critical part of the business plan. We went to SCORE for help. Working closely with two SCORE, counselors, Lee McFadden and Bruce Zimmerman, we spent months developing a business plan and refining the business model. The end result was a comprehensive business plan with clearly defined financials, objectives and goals.
The SCORE executives that we work with have gone over and above in helping us structure a successful business. We would not have been able to accomplish our financing goals without them. The business plan and financial support are now in place to allow us to offer and deliver a highly regarded publication service to the marketplace. |
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