Post-operative compression garment manufacturer expands sales with assistance from the UGA SBDC

Man wearing glasses and a dress shirt with a patterned tie examines industrial equipment on a manufacturing floor, focused on the machinery in front of him.

The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) offers a variety of ways to help small businesses grow. But what if a business wants to enter international markets? That’s when the UGA SBDC utilizes its export training program, ExportGA. Russell Rainey was ready to sell his product globally but didn’t know where to start. When he heard the UGA SBDC had resources that could help, he turned to them for advice and training.

Apparel brand manages growth with help from the UGA SBDC

Stack of folded red, white, and tan striped polo shirts displaying black Steinberg brand labels at the collar.

Roy Steinberg’s golf apparel business was in full swing in Albany, Georgia, but his business needed additional cash flow to increase inventory and meet demand. With guidance from the UGA SBDC, Steinberg was able to develop a strong financial plan to refinance existing loans and improve cash flow. His hard work paid off—sales for his business, Steinberg Sportswear, have tripled.

From agriculture to pharmacy: UGA SBDC digs deep for a locally-owned pharmacy

Adult wearing a black polo shirt stands behind a retail counter, with shelves of vitamins, supplements, and health products displayed throughout the store behind the counter.

When Jared Swain first connected with the UGA SBDC, he had recently made a career transition from agriculture to pharmacy. After completing pharmacy school, Swain knew he could turn to Alyssa Foskey, area director at UGA SBDC at Valdosta State University, to help him develop a business plan to achieve his goal of owning his own pharmacy.

A long-term relationship with UGA SBDC leads to steady growth

Assorted ECOLINK chemical containers and bottles displayed on a tabletop mounted to a forklift inside a warehouse, with shelving, barrels, and stacked inventory visible in the background.

Brandon Pelissero, owner of industrial chemical company Ecolink, has worked with us for more than 15 years, beginning with a website audit in 2009. Over the past few years, the success of the partnership has been reflected in Ecolink’s growth—by 2023 the company had quadrupled sales and expanded both domestically and internationally.

Erosion control product manufacturer expands marketing with assistance from UGA SBDC

Older man and woman walk side by side through a large warehouse filled with industrial equipment, pallets, and workstations.

Looking to increase their online presence and expand their digital marketing efforts, owners of Silt Saver attended a UGA SBDC class focusing on LinkedIn strategy and was connected with Peter Williams, business consultant at the UGA SBDC in Macon. Williams educated Potter and Stephanie Singleton on ways to leverage social media to enhance their current marketing efforts. Now, Silt Saver is selling on a much broader scope.

Business owners benefit from UGA SBDC assistance

Two women sit at a desk reviewing information on a laptop in an office, smiling as they collaborate, with bookshelves and framed photos in the background.

The 2023 Economic Impact Study of the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) provides solid evidence that entrepreneurs utilizing UGA SBDC assistance experience greater sales and employment growth than the state averages, despite the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic.