Segway of Volusia County
SBDC Counselor, Ned Harper CBA
|
This is not only one success story, but three. The first story began in February 1974 when L. Gale Lemerand's dream of owning his own business came true. After many years of hard work, Mr. Lemerand sold his started-from-scratch business for $100 million. Today, he is helping other dreams come true by founding the L. Gale Lemerand Center for Entrepreneurship. This is a foundation that pays for the Entrepreneur Speaker Series, which encourages entrepreneurs to seek their dreams by presenting speakers who started a business and became multimillionaires. The series is run by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Daytona State College.
One of these entrepreneurial speakers is the subject of our second success story. In 1967 S. Truett Cathy, with his business philosophy and biblical principles, opened the first Chick-fil-A. Forty-one years and 1,400 restaurants later, Mr. Cathy has not forgotten his humble beginnings or his principles, which is what he credits for his success.
Our third, and most personally rewarding success story involves both of the previous stories: In January 2008, Rob and Grace Burns had a problem. The construction industry was busted and Rob was without a job. Their solution was to open their own business. This wasn't the first time Rob had tried starting a business; both of his previous attempts didn't make it. This time however, Rob and Grace had a new idea: Segway.
In the previous year, Rob had taken a tour of Amelia Island on a Segway Personal Transporter, a two-wheeled, 'green' electric vehicle invented by Dean Kamen. On that vacation, Rob's mind wondered at all the uses of a Segway. When he lost his job, Rob decided to contact Segway to see about opening a dealership and offering tours in Volusia County. Segway told Rob that he wasn't the only entity which sought after these dealership rights, and it was going to cost a lot of money. When added to their initial startup costs, this translated into a total of $150,000.
They were scared and had many questions that nobody could answer until they came to the Entrepreneur Speaker Series in which S. Truett Cathy was the speaker. 'As Mr. Cathy spoke, the wheels in our heads started to turn,' said Rob. Although the founder of a multibillion dollar operation was speaking to an audience of over 700 people, Rob and Grace felt as if Mr. Cathy was speaking directly to them. 'He answered all of our questions, even though we didn't ask them. It was almost spiritual.' The most profound message Mr. Cathy gave to the couple: 'With determination, you can do anything. [But] if you aren't prepared to lose it all, don't do it.'
Determination and preparation paid off. After their interview with Segway, they were granted Authorized Dealership rights to Volusia and Flagler Counties. 'Your enthusiasm and your business plan beat out other very qualified applicants,' Segway told Rob. All they needed now was to come up with the right location and the right amount of money.
When Rob came to the SBDC, he and Grace had written their business plan, but needed to verify the viability of New Smyrna Beach for their business. They had to hit their target market. At the SBDC's suggestion, Rob and Grace made an appointment with a counselor and attended classes from the STARTUP series. Ready with their location and their business plan, Rob and Grace went to the bank.
Unfortunately, this came at a time when banks were restricting lending to startups. As if this setback wasn't enough, the City of New Smyrna Beach almost refused to allow Rob to open in their beach town.
That didn't stop the Burns. They worked every angle, using credit cards, Rob's severance pay, a home equity line of credit, and a loan from a relative, to open Segway of Volusia County on May 11, 2008. Within six months, Rob and Grace broke even, with over $100,000 in sales and $20,000 in tours.
Segway of Volusia's historic tours through New Smyrna Beach and Cracker Creek have been a hit. 'We offer the lowest priced Segway tours in Florida,' says Rob, proud of his contribution to Volusia County's economy and tourism. He and Grace love it when their customers get the 'Segway Smile'. 'It is very rewarding to have a job in which you can enjoy life. Every day I guide a tour I feel like I am the happiest man on earth by feeling the fresh air of the beach and by seeing the turtles and manatees swimming around you.'
Segway of Volusia's sales customers have included police departments and golfers, as well as the average customer interested in having a new way to get around. Grace does a marvelous job in reaching them through their website and brochures, all of which she designs herself.
Future plans for Segway of Volusia County: to offer tours in other counties and possibly open a second dealership by the end of year two. 'We've stayed humble,' says Rob, 'keeping a small inventory and treating customers right. It's been hard, so we take nothing for granted.' Rob and Grace Burns' journey has not been easy, but it was their determination, character, and the words of a successful entrepreneur who spoke at Daytona State College and thanks to another entrepreneur, L. Gale Lemerand, who both helped them to make the final decision: To Start Their Own Business.
Check out their website Segway of Volusia County
|
|
