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Texas Pie Company – – South-West Texas Border SBDC Network, Austin

January 22, 2021

Serving Up Sweet Success

Since 1986, Chef Julie Albertson has been serving tasty pies in Central Texas. Her sweet success has played a role in recognizing the company’s home location, the City of Kyle, as the Pie Capital of Texas. What first started as a business operating out of her home, the Texas Pie Company is now a full-service restaurant and a retail and wholesale pie bakery. In 2016, H-E-B recognized Julie’s pies as the year’s Primo Picks Quest for Texas Best Grand Prize Winner. In early 2020, the Texas Pie Company received the SBA San Antonio District Office Women Owned Small Business of the Year award.

SBDC SUPPORT

In 2017, Julie Albertson contacted the Texas State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for assistance to increase sales and find capital. When COVID-19 dealt an unhealthy serving of uncertainty, Julie reached Business Advisor Rex Steele to develop an action plan to keep her business open. The pandemic temporarily altered her business, but through Rex’s guidance, she was able to receive financial help via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Rex’s assistance included understanding the loan application, answering questions pertaining to the funds and knowing how to use those funds. Julie was successful in receiving government funding to assist her in maintaining her business.

Filed Under: Success Stories 2020

Hartmann’s, Inc. – Northwest Texas SBDC Network, Abilene

January 22, 2021

Hartmann's Inc

Hartmann’s, Inc., opened their doors in 1955 and have proudly been operating in Abilene, Texas for 65 years. Hartmann's Inc. is a 100% certified woman owned business located in Abilene, Texas, with a second facility in Jacksonville, Florida. Patricia Hartmann, at 80 years of age, is still active in the daily operations of her business, along with three generations of family members. Patricia's management and technical skills for over four decades, in the machine shop industry, an industry not usually associated with a woman owner, are remarkable. Their current customer base includes medical, aviation, automotive, diesel engine, defense and aerospace customers. They are also known for the quick development of prototypes and production runs with mechanical assemblies as needed by the customer. Hartmann’s, Inc., produces high quality parts from their state-of-the-art Mazak CNC turning and milling centers, as well as their sheet metal fabrication and welding departments. They have an in-house, state-of-the-art, quality control laboratory. Customers receive superior quality, with no offshore supplier delays, and personal service, design, and state of the art processing. The job does not end until the part is satisfactorily installed and operating to customer specifications.

 

Hartmann’s, Inc., is ISO 9001 – 2015 and AS9100D certified. They worked with the SBDC and Procurement Technical Assistant Center in Abilene to become certified in additional areas for government contracting, as they are in Federal and Texas State HUB Zones. Hartmann’s Inc. is located just a couple of hours away from North America's largest Maquiladora region and appreciate their global customer base. They are proud that they ship numerous products world-wide, including Japan, Ireland, and Mexico. Clients enjoy the ability to cut warehousing cost and parts inventory requirements which may be needed when employing offshore sources. Hartmann's Inc., is capable of machining a wide variety of materials including stainless steels such as 303, 304, 316, 416 & 17- 4 PH and a wide range of cold rolled steel that includes 1018, 1144SP, 12L14, 4140, 8620, AL, castings and plastics such as Delrin, Peek, Injection Molded Plastics, Phenolic, and PVC. As part of the expansion, the company purchased thirteen new Mazak machines, at an average cost of $235,000 each, that are top of the line and provide for manufacturing under the most precise specifications in the industry. Hartmann’s also offers engineering support and refurbishment services of assemblies and machinery.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ownership and management worked with the Abilene SBDC, banks and other parties, to expand their facility and client base as they had an increased customer demand for products they manufacture. The Abilene facility expanded from 16,000 sq ft to 100,000 sq ft and began operations at the new facility October 1, 2020. Hartmann’s Inc., worked with the SBDC on a business plan that resulted in a combination of SBA and conventional loans totaling $5,985,000 (as detailed above). The company purchased $3,400,000 of new equipment in 2020 and plans to purchase an additional $3,200,000 in the next four years.

By the end of 2024, the company will expand its full-time job equivalents to 90 employees. Hartmann’s was also able to successfully fund their expansion and leasehold improvements for a new and improved 100,000 square foot facility. Over the past year Hartmann’s has increased production capacity, going from a 16,000 sq ft facility to a new 100,000 sq ft facility. Currently the company employs 39 FTEs, and foresees doubling of both production and employment in 2021.One of the stated goals of the facility expansion, equipment upgrades, and expanded employment, is to repatriate many of the manufacturing processes and jobs that have been done outside the USA for many years. Working with the Abilene SBDC CARES Coordinator, the company received a $365,000 PPP forgivable loan that allowed Hartmann’s to continue at the current employment levels for the eight-week covered period, as stipulated per PPP requirements. The CARES coordinator worked with the Company to apply for loan forgiveness with the bank and the loan has been forgiven as of this date.

"Since our company's humble beginnings in 1955 no one could have imagined our growth and expansion of our customer base across multiple industries.  When we began our first discussions with First Financial Bank Abilene, they immediately suggested that we bring David Smith and the Texas Tech SBDC in on the project.  Our family has known David for years, but we were not aware of what all the SBDC did to help small family businesses like ours.  From the very beginning David and his team's assistance and guidance has been fundamental to our expansion.  Even during a pandemic, David Smith and the SBDC have been there helping us turn a strong, Texas born company into a global player in the manufacturing industry."  Alan Hartmann

 

Filed Under: Success Stories 2020

Pink Pedi – North Texas SBDC Network, Dallas Metropolitan SBDC

January 22, 2021

Pink Pedi
North Texas SBDC Network

Dallas Metropolitan SBDC

Pink Ped is a stylish nail salon located in West Dallas at Sylvan Thirty in 2017. The salon makes a luxurious line of bath and skincare products and are a toxin-free salon in West Dallas. The salon caters to clientele in West Dallas and the surrounding Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. Owners Lucy Dang and Brandon Lyon became entrepreneurs to control the creative side of their endeavors. The partnership operating in the service industry, is an all-natural nail salon offering clean beauty spa products made fresh weekly for sale and service.

Designer Lucy Dang came to the SBDC in 2015 for assistance with her design business. She is a creative designer of casual and comfortable evening gowns with her collection online throughout the United States. In 2016, Lucy Dang and husband/partner Brandon Lyon came to the Dallas Metropolitan SBDC to focus on the development of another business.

The SBDC assisted Lucy and Brandon with the development of a business plan, assistance with financing and market analysis. SBDC business advisor Judith Collins assisted with the development of the marketing plan for the business. Lucy and Brandon injected equity in the business and opened the business in 2017.

Lucy and Brandon were able to open their business with two part time staff members and themselves. In January 2019, Pink Pedi increased their employees with the addition of 12 additional employees in January 2019.

In late March 2020, in the height of the COVID pandemic the virus and social distancing caused the chairs at Pink Pedi were empty and 15 nail technicians were without work. Owners Lucy and Brandon brainstormed how they could keep bringing in money to cover payroll. Lucy and Brandon effectively pivoted their business with making face masks and hand sanitizer.

“There was a need. And in times of crisis you gotta step up,” she said. “So I’m like, ‘I’m gonna take the panic out of pandemic and turn it into something positive.’” For every mask purchased, they donate one to hospitals and clinics. They pivoted their operations during the shutdown to help pay for staff and provide PPE to local hospitals.

They started making hand sanitizer with ingredients and packaging they already had on hand. Production is limited. The masks they make are not medical grade, but healthcare workers can use them to cover their disposable masks to make them last longer. They sell the masks online and it has been profitable enough to help their employees keep the lights on.

Pink Pedi received the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to help sustain their business operations. As the restrictions and shutdown have ceased, Pink Pedi were able to get back to operations on May 22, 2020. They are back to serving customers operations with providing manicures and pedicures. They have COVID restrictions outlined on their website https://www.pinkpedi.com/ under Pediquette for you and me.

Pink Pedi has embraced social media platforms for ease of use for their customers. Clients can book appointments through Facebook https://www.facebook.com/, as well as their website. They have an Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pinkpedisalon/ filled with photos of their body butters, bath bombs, care kits, as well as other inspirational photos denoting relaxation and pampering.

Lucy and Brandon hope to duplicate the success of their first Pink Pedi by expanding this concept into a franchise with multiple locations with the continued help of the SBDC. They stated, “The SBDC is like your businesses Best Friend. Judith Collins has been a guardian angel that has guided Pink Pedi towards success in helping us with proper planning and procedures year after year.”

Filed Under: Success Stories 2020

Americas Best Value Inn & Suites – Texas Gulf Coast, Prairie View

January 22, 2021

Coronavirus Impacts Waller County Hotel Occupancy Rates
Prairie View A&M SBDC
By Toni Carter

 

The COVID-19 pandemic shook the hospitality and lodging industry hard, and turned many hotel businesses upside down. Brands including Hilton and Hyatt reported significant losses and decreased occupancy and revenue.

 

Americas Best Value Inn & Suites in Waller County was another hotel hit hard by the pandemic as its main client base, Prairie View A&M University, had an extensive drop in campus visitors. The University canceled a number of events to include shifting the in-class structure to hybrid and online courses. Virtually, all reservations were cancelled without an option to provide other services when these changes became effective.

 

In response to low occupancy rates, Americas Best Value Inn & Suites franchise owner Nilay Rania decided to seek a business loan with the Small Business Association (SBA). However, he encountered application difficulties that resulted in repeat loan rejections.

 

To get help navigating SBA’s loan application process, Rania sought help from Prairie View A&M University Small Business Development Center (PVAMU SBDC). He was matched with SBDC Business Advisor Jasmin Espy, who was able to provide clarification and steer Rania in the right direction.

 

Espy helped Rania prepare and gather the proper documentation needed to complete the application. To review the application for accuracy and minimize delays, Espy went a step further and connected Rania with SBDC CARES Specialist, Rebecca Schultz. Shultz provided direction and clarification on the appeal submission process, email response interpretation and timelines associated with pending status and approval timelines.

 

“The additional expertise of the CARE Specialist really was the tipping point in clearing up confusion and providing clarification the client needed to stick with the application,” said Espy. “Without this assistance we likely would have lost the customer and the loan opportunity. Rebecca Shultz is the ultimate team player. She is truly an extension of our SBDC adding value in a very critical area and provides timely and relevant communications for all parties.”

 

Raina got approved for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and received funding on Sept. 1, 2020 and is planning to use the capital to retain employment for seven employees. He also plans to use the loan to catch up on deferred obligations and sustain cash-flow into 2021. And although the lodging industry is still reeling, the franchisor is now working with the SBDC to appeal another SBA loan application and secure funding for his Comfort Suites Hotel located in Tomball, TX. 

 

The combined efforts between the PVAMU SBDC and Cares Specialist, Rebecca Shultz were key factors in helping Rania. When asked of his overall experience with the SBDC, Rania said, “The SBDC advising was very helpful.  My business advisor did not give up and found resources that helped me secure my loan.  And because of this show of support, I did not give up.”

 

Rania will continue his relationship with the SBDC as he pursue another appeal for a different hotel he owns in Waller County.  He remains confident in Shultz and her ability to help him get this additional loan resubmitted and approved.

For help navigating the COVID-19 crisis, make a virtual appointment with an SBDC business advisor or business specialist.

Filed Under: Success Stories 2020

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