|
|
| Missouri Small Business
Development Centers ... your success is our business |
Saturday, May 17, 2008
|
||
 |
|||
Entrepreneur Archive:
|
 |
| Senator Gary Nodler visits with Steve Fuller, co-owner of Able Products of Joplin at the Business Showcase and Legislative Breakfast Feb. 10, 2005, at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. |
Last year, after the two found themselves at similar career crossroads, they took advantage of timing and opportunity buying Able Products from its founder, Tom Burns. When they took over the 15-year-old company in April they had four employees. Since then they've doubled to a workforce of eight, which serves clients in 14 states.
"We're testing the theory that two heads are better than one," says Ramsour of the partnership he and his long-time friend have established. So far they're proving the theory correct, but with one corollary: sometimes a third head really comes in handy.
That third head belongs to Lisa Robinson, counselor with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Missouri Southern State University. Robinson has helped the two sales and marketing veterans tackle business tasks they hadn't encountered previously in their extensive business careers.
Taking on the challenge of an existing small business meant the new owners had to simultaneously tackle and rejuvenate multiple aspects of the operation.
"Pete and Steve needed to develop all of their systems for marketing, customer management, inventory management and accounting," says Robinson.
While Ramsour and Fuller had a good handle on marketing and customer relations, Robinson advised them on business management and accounting. During their first three months in business Robinson was a regular consultant helping them with computer hardware and software selection and implementation. She also assisted with financial data management, brochure creation and website development (www.ableproductsinc.com).
"We have decades of business experience between the two of us, but we couldn't have pulled this business together without her help," Ramsour insists. "Lisa and the SBDC are great assets, and frankly have saved us a lot of money."
Though Robinson concentrated her efforts with Able Products in the early months of the ownership transition, she still checks in periodically with the two woodsmen.
"We'll occasionally have questions regarding data input in our QuickBooks (computer software) program or for the website. I guess I haven't talked with Lisa for at least the last 45 minutes," Ramsour jests.
 |
| Pete Ramsour, left, co-owner of Able Products of Joplin – a manufacturer of fine oak furniture – visits with Rep. Ron Richard (center) and U.S. Small Business Administration regional administrator, Sam Jones, at the Business Showcase and Legislative Breakfast Feb. 10, 2005, at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. |
And because of the entrepreneurial spirit and success demonstrated by Fuller and Ramsour, Able Products received an award and a legislative resolution at a recent event in the State Capitol in Jefferson City. At that February gathering — the Missouri SBDC-hosted Client Showcase — Able Products and more than 20 other outstanding Missouri companies met with legislators to discuss their products and services, and to receive recognition for their contributions to the economic development of the state of Missouri.
"Our visit to the SBDC Client Showcase was productive for us, too," says Fuller. "We made a couple of solid new contacts as a result of our visit to Jefferson City."
For more information on the services of the MO SBDC program, call Lisa Robinson at 417/625-9575 or e-mail her at robinson-L@mssu.edu.
Able Products
6636 Highway C
Joplin, MO 64804
Phone: 417-623-6478
www.ableproductsinc.com
Manufacturer
Professional, Scientific and Technical Service
|
Accommodation & Food Services
Retail Trade
Educational Services
Health & Social Services
Construction
Agriculture
|
Visit the current Featured Entrepreneur
|
 |
Well,
at Able Products they don't chuck wood. They turn solid, fine-quality
red oak into attractive pieces of furniture, such as curio cabinets,
deacon's benches and hall trees. 
