Show-Me MO Success podcast: MO Pac Lumber looks to the future
FAYETTE, Mo. – When Bucky Pescaglia began thinking about retiring from his family business, MO Pac Lumber, after nearly 50 years, he Googled “I need help with doing a strategic plan for my business,” and the Missouri Small Business Development Center came up. He contacted the Missouri SBDC and was connected with business counselor Paul Zacharias.
Show-Me MO Success podcast: Choose Greater Health supports brain injury survivors
FULTON, Mo. – After Paige Speers suffered a brain injury when blood clots cut oxygen to her brain, her recovery experience made her want to help others. Learning to live a healthier lifestyle and to find doctors who support those decisions led Speers to create Choose Greater Health, a community for brain injury survivors and caregivers and a directory of medical professionals.
Missouri SBDC continues to “Elevate” second-stage businesses
This spring, five Missouri small businesses began the journey to grow beyond the second stage. Through the Missouri Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC’s) Elevate program, these five business owners, at no cost to them, are gaining knowledge from various experts that most small-business owners rarely have access to.
Show-Me MO Success podcast: Gina's Vegan a Go Go and MU Extension
COLUMBIA, Mo. – When Gina Overshiner turned her passion for vegan cooking into a food truck business, she turned to University of Missouri Extension’s Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for advice. To celebrate Small Business Month, the latest episode of “Show-Me MO Success,” MU Extension’s Business and Communities podcast, tells the story of one startup owner’s journey and the assistance she received from SBDC along…
MBA continues her education with Missouri SBDC, Webb City Florist - Webb City, MO
Courtney Smith has a Master of Business Administration, but when she decided to buy Webb City Florist, she realized she didn’t know where to start, so she continued her education with the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Show-Me MO Success podcast: Setting your roots in business
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri Small Business Development Centers offer personalized and extensive services from knowledgeable and helpful professionals. In the latest episode of “Show-Me MO Success,” the University of Missouri’s Business and Community Extension podcast, listeners hear an example of how a Columbia business is working with the SBDC to develop and grow.
Missouri SBDC elevates business, impacts economic development
Over the past two years, a group of 22 second-stage Missouri small businesses increased sales by $10.7 million, made capital investments of $8.2 million, and added 74 jobs. These businesses were beneficiaries of research and advice from leading experts in a customized consulting program called Elevate. Targeted at second-stage businesses, Elevate is sponsored by the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in partnership with…
Bridging the gap between urgent care and the ER, Innovative Medical Clinic - Jefferson City, MO
As a physician assistant in a hospital emergency room, Elochukwu “Elo” Osoego noted that most of the patients seen there — 80% to 85%, he said — did not need to be in the ER. Often, they needed services not available at urgent care and didn’t have time to wait until they could get an appointment with their primary care physician.
Nonprofit finds pearls in the Elevate program, Boone Center Inc. - St. Peters, MO
BCI is a nonprofit organization that was founded in St. Charles, Missouri, in 1959 to provide employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities. Elevate program cohorts do not usually include nonprofits, but BCI fit because they do manufacturing, create jobs, and contribute to the economic development of St. Charles County.
Adding value to the family farm business, Inland Cape Rice Mill - Scott City, MO
Sam Schneider and his wife eat rice at every meal, so transitioning the family farm into growing rice was a challenge he was happy to take on.
Finding the courage to pursue excellence, Areté Contracting - Jefferson City, MO
Kyle Te had always wanted to go the self-employment route, but for a long time he didn’t have the courage to do it or a clear idea of what industry would be the right fit.Then he found his fit and that gave him the courage.
Family business overcomes loss, Mueller Industries - St. Louis, MO
When a family-run small business loses its leader and, shortly afterward, loses its largest client, it can send the company into a tailspin. “We were frantic,” said Christine Jeep, CEO of Mueller Industries in St. Louis, Missouri. “We didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Let no tree go to waste, Full Circle Forest Products - Rutledge, MO
Are trees that have been felled by nature or landowners destined to rot — either where they lie or in a landfill? Joshua Clarkweiss says no. Clarkweiss, owner of Full Circle Forest Products, a sustainability-focused sawmill in Rutledge, Missouri, turns those trees into custom construction lumber and furniture.
Serving children with differing abilities, Unearth Potential - Joplin, MO
When Anita Archer and Erin Phipps, behavior analysts and owners of Unearth Potential in Joplin, Missouri, learned about the impending closure of the company they worked for, they worried about all the families that would be left without services for their children with differing abilities. With the encouragement of the families they were then serving, the women decided to open their own clinic.
Helping Midwesterners celebrate freedom — safely, Powder Monkey Fireworks - Weldon Spring, MO
“The last two years were our best two years,” said Chris Sander, owner of Powder Monkey Fireworks in three Missouri locations: Weldon Spring, Cape Girardeau and Bowling Green. Not many businesses can say that about sales during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Noller named interim state director of Missouri SBDC
JOPLIN, Mo. – Sherry Noller has been appointed interim education director for University of Missouri Extension’s Business Development Program and interim state director for the Missouri Small Business Development Centers.The appointment, effective June 1, follows the retirement of longtime Missouri SBDC leader Greg Tucker, who joined the Missouri SBDC team in 2000 as a business counselor in Jefferson County.
10 Missouri small businesses prepare to “Elevate” beyond the second stage
Ten second-stage Missouri small businesses are learning from experts and each other how to move to the next level. Selected from across the state and representing the advertising, construction, health care, manufacturing, and retail trade industries, the following businesses are participating in the 2022 Elevate program supported and led by the Missouri Small Business Development Centers (SBDC).
Birth of a franchise, DocuLock - St. Joseph, MO
“Our first quarter sales this year almost exceeded our total sales of last year because of a paradigm shift in how we do business,” said Paul Janicek, owner of DocuLock in St. Joseph, Missouri. Janicek attributes that shift to the open-heart surgery he went through in 2020.
Black female entrepreneur “being the change,” Locs of Glory - St. Louis, MO
Tameka Stigers is passionate about seeing more Black-owned businesses serving the needs of the Black community. “We [Blacks] are consumers,” Stigers said. “We’re always consuming and not owning. We have to change that.”
Homegrown small business ready to scale and diversify, Hannibal Machine - Hannibal, MO
From wielding a broom to welding metal art, Scott Haycraft grew from a youngster helping around the shop to a skilled machinist and part-owner of Hannibal Machine in Hannibal, Missouri.
From friendship bracelets to order fulfillment and beyond: One entrepreneur’s journey, Court Street Custom Fulfillment - Fulton, MO
Some people are born entrepreneurs. Beth Snyder is among them.
Missouri SBDC receives grant to help businesses in underserved communities
The Missouri Small Business Development Centers received a $125,000 award for specialized training, business counseling and technical assistance for R&D-focused small businesses under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program.
Small business set to not only elevate but skyrocket, Schempp Wholesale - St. Joseph, MO
After working in the equipment rental industry for more than 20 years, during many of which he was a travelling sales representative, Phil Duane decided to strike out on his own.
Missouri SBDC receives grant to help underserved communities succeed with the Small Business Innovation Research Program
MISSOURI – The Missouri SBDC (Small Business Development Centers) was awarded $125,000 for specialized training, business counseling, and technical assistance for research and development (R&D)-focused small businesses under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program.
The Cherry Company, Kansas City, MO
Thalia Cherry started working with the Missouri SBDC at UMKC in 2016 and continues to work with her business coach to help her business grow. Check out our latest client highlight video to learn more about Thalia's entrepreneurial journey.
Branson Airport, Hollister, MO
The Branson Airport started working with the Missouri SBDC at Missouri State University in 2020 to learn more about various programs to help them navigate the pandemic impacts on travel. Check out this latest video and hear how working with the SBDC helped them.
Good News Brewing, Defiance, MO
Good News Brewery has grown amidst the pandemic. They find opportunities and reach out to the Missouri SBDC at EDC of St. Charles County. Check out this latest video and hear how working with the SBDC helped them.
Lone Star Physiques, Kirkville, MO
Stephanie McGrew is the owner of Lone Star Physiques in Kirksville, MO. Check out our latest client highlight video to learn about Stephanie's relationship with the Missouri SBDC in Northeast Region and more about her rural, personal fitness business.
The Export Plan: Pricing Strategy
Now that you’ve identified a country for export and have selected a path to your customers, it’s a good time to start to think about pricing. You’ll need to make the important decision on what you will charge for your product. In this issue, we’ll discuss the additional costs you can expect to incur when exporting to a foreign county and will review how those should be factored into the sales price of your product.
Self-performing woman-owned construction business pushing it forward, Hartline Construction - Kansas City, MO
Coming out of the recession and opening her own company, Jennifer Hart wanted to ensure it would last, so she took every business class she could think of. The Elevate program is the latest of those classes. Programs like Elevate “help small companies push it forward,” Hart said.