With UGA SBDC Assistance, Franchisee Grows to Four Locations and Receives National Recognition
“Ever thought about owning your own business?” Mark Preetorius spotted this question on a marketing brochure in the lobby of a Massage Envy clinic while waiting for physical therapy after a knee replacement. As it happened, he’d been toying with the idea after working for 30 years as a corporate executive. The question spurred him […]
Sound Startup Advice Leads to Rapid Growth for Canine Rehab Center
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Georgia Bottoms is a licensed physical therapist. She treated people in acute care and skilled nursing facilities in Savannah before becoming the wound care coordinator at Memorial Health. However, her focus changed from people to their dogs after her pup, Ripken, needed extensive rehabilitation to recover from knee surgery. “The physical therapist in the clinic […]
Certification Leads to Larger Orders, Greater Growth for Macon Fabrication Shop
Stan Greene, owner of Greene Machine and Manufacturing, was ready to retire when he asked Larry Collins, who had worked with Greene since the late 1990s, if he would be interested in purchasing the business. Before making a decision, Larry and his wife, Gwen, attended a class for start-ups offered by the University of Georgia […]
Marketing Strategies Launch Hiram Medical Retailer, Growth Expands It into Commercial Realty
Three women shopping during the Great Recession – wife, sister and mom – led young Tyler Wilson and his wife, Marissa, to form what is now a rapidly growing retail business, Superior Scrubs, in Hiram. “My wife was in school to be a nurse. My sister, Kaley, was in the medical industry as well. And […]
Strategically Grown: Operational Assessment First Step to Optimizing Expansion of Atlanta Gelato Business
Wes Jones and Jackson Smith grew up as best friends in their north Atlanta neighborhood. At some point, says Jones, “we thought it would be fun to start a business together when we got older.” Maintaining their friendship through college, they went on to jobs in education, for Jones, and gelato production, for Smith, who […]
Continual Learning Leads to Continual Growth for Columbus Sign Business
Richie Grantham first came to the UGA SBDC in Columbus in 2008. He had purchased Sunshine Banners and Signs and was seeking guidance on how to best structure this business and prepare it for growth. The SBDC’s GrowSmart program was accepting applications, so Grantham applied and was accepted. After attending the five-week program, Grantham learned […]
SBDC Training Shows Columbus Businessman Several Best Practices for Growth
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Terry Wiggins had worked his way up to district manager of a major insurance firm when it was purchased in 1996, and the new company wanted him to move. Rather than leave his beloved Columbus community, he purchased a small local agency with one agent and two part-time employees, renamed it Wiggins Insurance and quickly […]
“How Can the UGA SBDC Help My Business Grow?”
[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]What is the UGA SBDC? That’s a great (and common) question! You may even be wondering, “What does SBDC stand for?” Here are your answers: UGA SBDC stands for University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (SBDC). We educate small business owners so that their businesses can grow and prosper. All of our consultants […]
